Daily EV news · UK · 30 April 2026
EV Charging
MFG faces order to remove EV chargers after planning refusal upheld
UK forecourt operator MFG may be forced to dismantle installed EV charging infrastructure after losing a planning appeal. The company had erected chargers without securing the necessary planning consent, and local authorities have now upheld enforcement action requiring their removal. The case underscores the regulatory risks facing charge point operators who proceed with installations before obtaining proper approvals.
Why it matters
The ruling serves as a warning to CPOs and site developers that retrospective planning applications carry real enforcement risk, potentially forcing costly removal of live charging assets. It highlights the importance of securing all consents before capital deployment, particularly as local planning scrutiny of EV infrastructure intensifies across the UK.
Aberdeen petrol station faces road safety complaint over unauthorised EV charger installation removing all parking spaces
An EV charging unit installed at a petrol station in Aberdeen has drawn a road safety complaint because it occupies all available parking spaces, according to a report in the Press and Journal. The installation appears to have been carried out without proper authorisation. Local concerns centre on the loss of parking provision at the forecourt site.
Why it matters
The case highlights planning and site design risks for charge point operators deploying infrastructure at retail fuel sites, where space constraints and regulatory compliance can trigger enforcement action and reputational damage.
Residents face £18,000 communal electricity surge linked to EV charging dispute at Langley block
Residents at Hurricane Court in Langley are protesting a sharp rise in mandatory service charges, with communal electricity costs jumping from £27,000 last year to an estimated £45,000 this year, an £18,000 increase. Resident Ali Amjad and others suspect the surge stems from EV charging points installed in the building, which they believe are being used by others while costs are spread across all residents. The increase far exceeds the previous year's £7,000 rise and dwarfs other service charge movements, prompting months of unanswered enquiries to property manager Oakwood Estates.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights a growing friction point in multi-occupancy developments where shared infrastructure costs for EV charging are not transparently allocated or metered, risking resident pushback and complicating future charge point rollouts. For CPOs and housing developers, the case underscores the need for clear sub-metering and cost recovery models to avoid legal and reputational risks in communal settings.
Electric Vehicles
Labour council scraps electric bin lorries in favour of diesel
A Labour-run council in the United Kingdom has reversed its decision to deploy electric refuse collection vehicles, opting instead to return to diesel-powered bin lorries. The Telegraph reports the move, though specific fleet numbers, cost figures and the council's stated rationale are not detailed in the excerpt provided.
Why it matters
The decision highlights operational or financial barriers that can derail municipal EV adoption, even under administrations publicly committed to decarbonisation. For fleet operators and charging infrastructure providers, it underscores the need to prove total cost of ownership and reliability in heavy-duty applications.
Salisbury Reds to showcase electric bus from new zero emission fleet at Downton Cuckoo Fair
Salisbury Reds will display one of its new electric buses at the Downton Cuckoo Fair in Wiltshire on 2 May, giving visitors a chance to explore the vehicle. The operator has received special permission to bring the zero emission bus onto the pedestrian only festival site, one of the largest free village events in the county.
Why it matters
Public engagement events like this help build acceptance for electric bus fleets and can inform future procurement decisions by demonstrating zero emission technology to communities and local authorities.