Daily EV news · UK · 5 May 2026
EV Charging
Cross-pavement EV charging rollout faces delivery questions despite £25 million grant allocation
The UK Government plans to introduce legislation this summer allowing EV drivers without off-street parking to install pavement gully charging systems without full planning permission, backed by £25 million in grants distributed to around 80% of upper-tier English local authorities. However, Professor Greg Marsden of the University of Leeds reports that many councils are still working through practical delivery and wider implications, with concerns about neighbourhood tensions over parking space ownership once chargers are installed. Kerbo Charge, which has installed around 1,500 cross-pavement charging units, is among industry players navigating the rollout.
Why it matters
The scheme could unlock home charging for fleet employees without driveways, but delivery uncertainty at council level may slow procurement timelines and create uneven geographic availability for charge point operators planning residential infrastructure.
Sainsbury's completes 12 EV charging bays at Taunton superstore
Sainsbury's has finished installing 12 EV parking and charging bays at its Hankridge Retail Park superstore in Taunton, Somerset. The rollout responds to rising electric vehicle adoption across the region, where some retailers have yet to provide dedicated charging infrastructure. The work follows similar EV canopy projects at nearby Morrisons sites in Taunton.
Why it matters
The completion adds to a cluster of grocery retail charging deployments in Taunton, signalling competitive pressure on supermarkets to offer destination charging as EV uptake accelerates. For charge point operators and installers, the trend underscores growing demand for turnkey solutions at high footfall retail sites.
Two 400 kW chargers and four accessible bays proposed at Dartford McDonald's site
Developers have submitted a planning application to Dartford council for two 400 kW ultra-rapid EV chargers and four accessible charging bays with associated infrastructure outside McDonald's in Princes Road, Dartford. The application states the scheme would significantly boost EV charging capacity in the area. The proposal is among several recent planning submissions to the council.
Why it matters
The 400 kW ultra-rapid specification and accessible bay provision signal commercial appetite for high-power roadside charging at hospitality locations. Procurement teams and site hosts will watch whether local planning approval timelines support rollout velocity for similar forecourt schemes.
77 per cent of NHS hospital sites in England lack EV chargers, analysis finds
Only 670 of 2,901 NHS hospital sites in England currently offer electric vehicle charging, leaving around 77 per cent without any facilities, according to analysis by online car retailer Cinch. Across the NHS estate, fewer than 5,000 chargers are installed, with the North East and Yorkshire accounting for 1,098 units yet still seeing nearly 70 per cent of sites without provision. The South West has more than 80 per cent of hospital sites operating without chargers.
Why it matters
The gap highlights a significant public sector procurement challenge and signals potential demand for large scale workplace charging tenders as NHS trusts seek to support staff and visitor EV adoption. Uneven regional distribution suggests opportunities for charge point operators to target underserved areas, particularly in the South West and beyond the North East and Yorkshire.
Electric Vehicles
Nissan to cut 900 jobs across Europe and merge two Sunderland production lines
Nissan plans to cut around 900 jobs, roughly 10% of its European workforce, as part of a global restructuring programme driven by rising costs, Chinese competition and the shift to electric vehicles. Two production lines at its Sunderland plant will be combined, though manufacturing roles there are not thought to be at risk and reductions will focus on office positions. The Sunderland site received a £900m cash injection in January after turnover fell from £7.4bn to £6.6bn and output dropped from 325,000 to 276,000 cars in the year to March 2025, though production of a new Leaf model began before Christmas.
Why it matters
The restructuring signals tighter capital allocation at a major OEM site that supplies EVs to UK and European fleets, potentially affecting future model availability and delivery timelines. Sunderland's status as a central production hub remains intact, but reduced output and workforce changes may influence procurement planning for charge point operators serving Nissan supply chains or fleet customers.
Renault 5 becomes UK's best selling EV and gains one pedal driving feature
The Renault 5 has become the UK's best selling electric vehicle and has received a software update adding one pedal driving capability. The update was delivered to existing owners, enhancing the vehicle's regenerative braking functionality. The model's sales performance marks a significant shift in the UK EV market, with a retro styled compact car leading registrations.
Why it matters
Fleet buyers and charge point operators should note the Renault 5's market dominance, as its popularity will influence charging infrastructure demand patterns. The addition of one pedal driving may affect charging session behaviour, with drivers potentially arriving at charge points with higher state of charge due to increased regenerative braking efficiency.
Grid & Energy
UK law firm outlines private wire and PPA routes to bypass grid delays for fleet charging
Emma Andrews, partner at Burges Salmon, argues that freight and fleet operators can use private wire connections and on-site generation to sidestep grid capacity constraints when installing EV charging infrastructure. The article notes that UK domestic transport accounted for 29% of total domestic emissions in 2023, making it the highest emitting sector, and that CO2 must fall by more than 3% per year to 2030 to meet net zero by 2050 targets under the Climate Change Act 2008.
Why it matters
Fleet operators facing long grid connection waits can explore alternative contracting structures to accelerate depot electrification. Private wire and power purchase agreements offer procurement pathways that reduce reliance on Distribution Network Operator timelines.
Policy & Market
UK electric vehicle pay-per-mile tax could cost economy £4.8 billion, industry warns
Trade body BEAMA and charging sector groups ChargeUK, REA and EVA England have warned the UK Government that the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty could cost the economy up to £4.8 billion by 2031, exceeding projected tax revenue of around £4.3 billion. The 3 pence per mile charge, due in 2028 on top of £200 annual VED, would add £255 yearly for drivers covering 8,500 miles, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. The industry coalition cites New Zealand's similar policy, which triggered a 50 per cent drop in EV sales, and calls for a pause and further impact assessment.
Why it matters
A sharp decline in EV uptake would slow the rollout of public charging infrastructure, reducing demand for new sites and equipment procurement. Charge point operators and suppliers face revenue uncertainty if the tax dampens fleet electrification and private EV adoption ahead of the 2030 petrol and diesel phase-out.