Daily EV news · UK · 19 May 2026
EV Charging
Brighton secures £232,000 DfT grant to trial 193 pavement gullies for kerbside EV charging
Brighton and Hove City Council has won £232,000 from the Department for Transport to install up to 193 pavement gullies, channels that let residents without driveways run charging cables safely from their homes to kerbside vehicles. Around two thirds of households in the city lack off street parking. Blue Badge holders will receive priority access under the Government backed Electric Vehicle Pavement Charging Grant, with Motability also involved, and taxi and private hire drivers are expected to benefit.
Why it matters
The trial addresses a major barrier to EV adoption in dense urban areas where most households have no driveway, potentially opening a new procurement route for low cost residential charging infrastructure. Councils and charge point operators will watch whether pavement gullies prove a scalable alternative to lamp post or dedicated kerbside units in terraced streets.
Metropolitan Police selects BetterFleet to manage charging for 5,500 vehicle fleet targeting net zero by 2030
The Metropolitan Police Service has awarded BetterFleet a contract to manage charging across depot and public networks for its approximately 5,500 vehicle fleet, of which 30% are already electric or hybrid. The force plans to add 250 electric or hybrid vehicles and motorcycles in the coming year as it works towards a carbon net zero fleet by 2030. BetterFleet's software will provide automatic prioritisation for critical vehicles, cost allocation and real time visibility of charging status across multiple locations through a single management platform.
Why it matters
The deal demonstrates how large public sector fleets with 24 hour operational requirements are procuring software platforms to manage growing charging infrastructure at scale. BetterFleet's SOC 2 compliant architecture highlights the cybersecurity and resilience standards now expected in mission critical fleet charging procurements.
Met Police adopts new technology to manage EV charging
The Metropolitan Police has adopted new technology to manage its electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as reported by GreenFleet.net. The move supports the force's transition to an electrified fleet across its operations in London.
Why it matters
Large public sector fleets like the Met Police represent significant depot charging procurement opportunities, and their technology choices for charge management can signal broader adoption trends across UK blue light services.
Electric Vehicles
National Highways trials hydrogen fuel cell to power £7 million Bootle road scheme
National Highways and Galliford Try are using a hydrogen fuel cell generator to power the construction compound for a £7 million pedestrian crossing project at the A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road and Park Lane crossroads in Netherton, Bootle. The system has supplied electricity to three site offices, toilets, a kitchen, a drying room and two EV charging points since work began in November, with completion due by 12 June. Chief operating officer Duncan Smith described it as a pilot project that could become standard practice as the technology becomes more affordable compared to diesel generators or grid connections.
Why it matters
The trial demonstrates how hydrogen fuel cells can support EV charging infrastructure on construction sites where grid connections are unavailable or impractical. If adopted more widely by National Highways and its supply chain, the approach could create demand for mobile hydrogen generation alongside temporary EV charging installations on major road projects.