Daily EV news · UK · 8 March 2026
EV Charging
Guardian editorial contrasts China's megawatt charging rollout with UK grid fragmentation
BYD has announced a battery offering over 600 miles of range and 250 miles of charge in five minutes, requiring chargers delivering around 1.5 megawatts, more than four times the fastest UK chargers. China plans thousands of megawatt charging stations within two years, while Britain's fragmented electricity system across multiple bodies would struggle to support such a network without substation and local network upgrades. The editorial argues that privatisation has made coordinated grid infrastructure harder to build in the UK compared with China's state directed investment.
Why it matters
Megawatt charging infrastructure demands grid capacity equivalent to a small town per charger, exposing how regulatory and ownership fragmentation in the UK may delay the ultra fast charging networks that CPOs will need to remain competitive as battery technology advances.
Gloucestershire installs four on-street EV bays in Cheltenham despite local opposition
Gloucestershire County Council has begun installing four dedicated EV charging bays on Lyefield Road East in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, despite objections from residents who say 99 per cent of locals oppose the scheme. Residents claim they received no meaningful consultation and that those with electric vehicles already have home chargers, while the street serves a nearby infant school and experiences rat-run traffic. The council highways team has defended the rollout.
Why it matters
The installation highlights friction between local authority rollout targets and community acceptance, a recurring challenge for CPOs and councils deploying on-street infrastructure. Procurement teams may face similar pushback where site selection lacks visible engagement or demand evidence.
Policy & Market
UK energy price cap cut delivers £25 annual home charging saving for 1.8 million EV drivers from April
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that around 1.8 million electric vehicle drivers in the UK will save approximately £25 per year on home charging costs from April, following a reduction in the Ofgem energy price cap. A full 71.1 kWh home charge will cost around £17.54, bringing monthly savings of up to £2.15, as part of wider household energy bill reductions totalling £117 annually. Industry figures say the move strengthens the economic case for EV adoption, with further savings available through off peak charging.
Why it matters
Lower running costs reinforce the total cost of ownership advantage for electric vehicles, potentially accelerating fleet electrification decisions and supporting the business case for workplace and depot charging infrastructure as EV uptake continues at record levels in the UK market.