Daily EV news · UK · 20 March 2026
EV Charging
MFG and Morrisons launch EV charging loyalty scheme as 250 ultra rapid bays roll out in 2025
Motor Fuel Group has partnered with Morrisons to offer five Morrisons More Points for every £1 spent at MFG EV Power charging bays, coinciding with the installation of 250 additional ultra rapid chargers at Morrisons forecourts this year. MFG, which acquired Morrisons forecourts in 2024, is pursuing a £400 million infrastructure programme to deploy more than 3,000 ultra rapid chargers at 500 sites across the UK by 2030. The loyalty integration is positioned as part of a customer focused charging experience at the combined estate.
Why it matters
The 250 bay rollout at Morrisons sites in 2025 represents a significant near term deployment opportunity for contractors and equipment suppliers tied to MFG's wider 3,000 charger programme. Loyalty scheme integration may influence site selection and design specifications as operators compete to embed charging into retail customer journeys.
Public EV charging could become cheaper after VAT ruling
A VAT ruling may reduce costs for public EV charging in the United Kingdom, according to Forecourt Trader. The decision could lower the tax burden on public charging infrastructure, potentially making it more affordable for drivers. Details of the ruling's scope and implementation timeline were not specified in the available excerpt.
Why it matters
Lower VAT on public charging could improve the business case for charge point operators by boosting utilisation, while also narrowing the price gap between public and home charging that has deterred some fleet and retail users.
South Tyneside Council installs seven rapid chargers at South Shields seafront and Jarrow Focus
South Tyneside Council has deployed seven rapid electric vehicle chargers across two sites: five at South Shields seafront and two at Jarrow Focus. The rollout is part of a wider regional programme delivered with Connected Kerb and the North East Combined Authority under Mayor Kim McGuinness, aimed at expanding EV infrastructure for residents and visitors across South Tyneside.
Why it matters
The deployment signals ongoing public sector commitment to rapid charging in coastal and community locations, with further expansion planned across the North East region. Councils working with private operators like Connected Kerb continue to shape the UK's public charging landscape.
Electric Vehicles
Go South Coast adds three Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV electric buses to Salisbury Reds fleet
Alexander Dennis, part of NFI Group, has delivered three Enviro100EV small electric buses to Go South Coast for its Salisbury Reds operation in the UK. Each 26 seat vehicle carries up to 45 passengers and features USB charging at all seats, next stop audio and visual announcements, and dementia friendly interiors. The delivery forms part of a wider electric bus investment by the operator.
Why it matters
The rollout demonstrates continued adoption of small format electric buses in regional UK fleets, with accessibility and passenger amenity features now standard in procurement specifications. Operators investing in electric fleets create ongoing demand for depot charging infrastructure and maintenance partnerships.
Bradford secures £14.2m to deploy electric buses from spring 2027, 18 months ahead of schedule
Bradford has been awarded £14.2m to accelerate its electric bus rollout, with the first vehicles due to operate from spring 2027. The funding comprises £8m from the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit and £6.2m from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and will support electric infrastructure at the Bowling Back Lane depot. The investment brings the deployment forward by 18 months and follows evidence that retrofitted Euro VI diesel buses failed to deliver expected emissions reductions.
Why it matters
The £14.2m package creates immediate depot electrification work in Bradford and signals a shift from diesel retrofit to full electric infrastructure ahead of West Yorkshire's bus franchising launch. Contractors and charge point operators should note the spring 2027 timeline for depot infrastructure delivery.
Salisbury unveils 18 electric double-decker buses in new fleet rollout
Salisbury has introduced a new fleet of electric buses that includes 18 double-deckers, according to the Salisbury Journal. The deployment marks a significant expansion of zero-emission public transport in the city. Details on charging infrastructure requirements and operational timelines were not disclosed in the initial announcement.
Why it matters
An 18-vehicle electric double-decker order signals depot charging demand and potential grid upgrades for a municipal fleet operator. The rollout offers insight into UK bus electrification pace and the infrastructure procurement cycles that follow large fleet commitments.
Grid & Energy
Great Britain opens Balancing Mechanism to residential battery storage under 1 MW
System operator NESO has relaxed metering rules for units under 1 MW, allowing aggregated residential batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps to trade in the Balancing Mechanism market for the first time. The market runs continuous 30 minute auctions with thousands of daily trades, offering far more frequent revenue opportunities than the existing Demand Side Flexibility Service, which procured small volumes only a handful of times per month. Owners can participate via energy suppliers or third party aggregators.
Why it matters
The rule change creates a commercial pathway for aggregators and suppliers to monetise distributed assets at scale, potentially accelerating residential battery and smart charger deployments. Procurement teams should watch for new demand side response tenders as NESO scales balancing capacity from sub 1 MW fleets.
Policy & Market
Study shows EV adoption in England spreading beyond wealthy early adopters across income groups
New analysis of battery electric vehicle ownership in England reveals that EV uptake is broadening across almost all socio-economic groups, with around 1.23 million battery electric vehicles registered as of Q2 2025. The study, which compares vehicle registration data with the UK's Index of Multiple Deprivation, finds that while wealthier areas still show the highest penetration, recent growth patterns indicate adoption is expanding beyond affluent households, though the most deprived ten percent of areas still show slower progress due to structural barriers including poverty and economic pressure.
Why it matters
The shift from concentrated wealthy adoption to broader socio-economic uptake signals a fundamental change in charging infrastructure requirements, with implications for where CPOs deploy chargers and how networks plan for electricity demand. The persistent gap in the most deprived areas highlights the need for targeted charging solutions and policy interventions to ensure equitable access to EV infrastructure.
NTPC and Octopus Energy sign MoU for clean energy and EV charging collaboration
NTPC Limited, India's largest integrated power utility, signed a memorandum of understanding with UK based Octopus Energy Group on 19 March 2026 at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026. The non binding framework covers cooperation in electricity distribution, renewable energy, storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, alongside digital energy platforms and capacity building. Partnership activities will focus on India and the United Kingdom, with potential to extend to other geographies.
Why it matters
The MoU signals potential for Octopus Energy's digital platforms and market models to shape EV charging rollout in India, where NTPC's scale could accelerate infrastructure deployment. Procurement teams and CPOs should monitor whether this translates into tenders or joint ventures that blend utility scale investment with customer facing charging technology.