Some 44 local councils across England are set to receive a share of more than £185m in government funding to help boost the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint rollout.
The funding forms part of £381m Local Electric Vehicle (LEVI) fund, which is dedicated fund to roll out chargepoints throughout the country, and follows the approval of the first five local authority applications in February.
Additionally, local authorities already allocated to the second round of LEVI funding can apply to the fund from 02 April 2024, following those who received funding in the first round.
READ MORE: East Midlands councils secure LEVI funding to support regional chargepoint rollout
UK minister for affordability and skills Amanda Solloway said: “This funding will make it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles.
“By bolstering our public charging network, we are not only making electric vehicles more accessible, but also driving the transition towards a cleaner, greener future.”
To further support the switch to electric, households without driveways or dedicated parking spaces can now access the government’s EV chargepoint grant.
The £350 grant will be widened to those who own or rent and have access to adequate street parking.
The funding aims to drive down the cost of EV ownership by providing up to 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing a chargepoint, and applicants must also have permission from their council to install a cross-pavement charging solution.
READ MORE: InstaVolt opens EV rapid charging superhub at London’s Syon Park
To help councils deliver EV infrastructure, a government-funded EV infrastructure training course will launch in full following a successful trial.
The course is open to all local authorities and will cover key topics from technology to procurement.
LEVI funding has reportedly helped to place almost 150 dedicated EV officers in councils to support chargepoint planning and delivery.
According to the government, fully electric vehicles accounted for more than 16% of the new UK car market in 2023, and there are 56,983 public chargepoints now installed across the UK – a 47% increase compared to this time last year.
The LEVI funding announcement follows the introduction of the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate into British law earlier this year, which requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, and 100% by 2035.
Achievements and innovations in EV charging infrastructure will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
