Daily EV news · UK · 29 May 2026
EV Charging
Worcestershire secures £3.5m LEVI grant and £13m private investment for 1,764 charge points across four-council consortium
Worcestershire County Council, working with Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire councils, has secured £3.5m from the Department for Transport's LEVI Fund alongside approximately £13m in private investment to deploy new EV charging infrastructure. EZO will deliver at least 64 rapid charge point sockets, while Connected Kerb will install 1,700 lower powered on street charge point sockets. Midlands Connect, the region's Sub-national Transport Body, supported the consortium in awarding the contracts.
Why it matters
The four council consortium demonstrates how regional collaboration can unlock substantial LEVI funding and private capital, with the split between rapid and on street provision offering a template for mixed deployment strategies. Procurement teams will note the dual supplier approach, separating rapid and residential charging delivery across a multi authority geography.
Harrogate expands EV charging network in bid to become leading northern hub
Harrogate is strengthening its position as a key EV charging destination in northern England through network expansion, according to the Harrogate Advertiser. The development aims to enhance the town's reputation for EV friendly travel infrastructure. Specific deployment figures and operator details were not disclosed in the available excerpt.
Why it matters
Regional hubs with growing charging networks signal procurement opportunities for CPOs and suppliers targeting municipal or destination charging contracts in the North of England. The positioning as a leading hub suggests coordinated infrastructure planning that may involve multiple site rollouts.
Charging infrastructure concern holds back UK EV adoption despite improved value perception
Concern about local charging infrastructure is discouraging UK EV adoption even as the proportion of drivers who view EVs as cheaper to fuel than petrol or diesel cars rose from 20% to 25% in six months, according to Motability Scheme research. Despite this improved value perception, interest in EV adoption remained stable at 42% of drivers considering an EV for their next car, with 37% saying it is difficult to find chargers in their area and more people believing their local council is doing a poor job (37%) than a good one (30%) of installing on street public charging. The perception varies regionally, with 49% of respondents in Greater London saying their council is doing well at installing infrastructure versus 22% in the South East.
Why it matters
The findings highlight that perceived charging availability, particularly on street provision by local authorities, remains a critical barrier to EV uptake even as running cost advantages become more widely recognised. For CPOs and procurement teams, the data underscores regional variation in infrastructure confidence and points to persistent gaps in local authority delivery that may shape where charging investment is most needed.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr opens 16 EV charging bays with free launch week via RAW Charging partnership
RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate has launched a 16 bay EV charging facility in partnership with RAW Charging, comprising four rapid DC chargers up to 50kW and twelve fast AC chargers up to 22kW. Visitors received free charging from 2 June to 4 June through the RAW Rewards programme, with contactless payment available thereafter. The installation forms part of the RHS's plan to deploy 90 charging bays across its five UK gardens by 2030 as it pursues climate positive status.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates how heritage and leisure destinations are integrating substantial charging infrastructure to support dwell time business models, with the 16 bay mix catering to both rapid turnaround and extended visitor stays. For CPOs and site hosts, the RAW Charging partnership model and phased rollout to 90 bays across RHS estates offers a template for multi site leisure sector deployments.
Motor Fuel Group applies for rapid EV chargers at A303 Barton Stacey service station amid neighbour objections
Motor Fuel Group has submitted a planning application to Test Valley Borough Council to install rapid EV charging facilities at Barton Stacey Service Station on the A303, which currently operates a Londis shop and petrol forecourt. The upgrade proposal has drawn objections from nearby residents. The application is under consideration by the local planning authority.
Why it matters
The case illustrates local opposition that can delay or complicate motorway service area charging rollouts, a key concern for CPOs and contractors bidding on high traffic corridor sites. Planning friction at strategic A-road locations may affect delivery timelines for national charging networks.
Penrith Town Council backs pavement EV charger trial but demands units be visually discreet
Penrith Town Council has approved a trial of pavement-mounted EV chargers, though councillors stipulated that the units must be positioned out of sight or designed to minimise visual impact. The decision, reported by Penrith.Town, reflects local authority support for charging infrastructure expansion tempered by concerns over street aesthetics. No details on the number of trial units or supplier were disclosed in the excerpt.
Why it matters
The approval signals growing acceptance of kerbside charging solutions in UK towns, but aesthetic conditions may influence equipment specifications and siting strategies for future tenders. Suppliers and installers will need to factor design constraints into proposals for residential and heritage areas.
TLB Development submits plans for 16-bay ultra-rapid charging hub and car wash at Highbridge business park
TLB Development has lodged a planning application with Somerset Council for a 16-chargepoint electric vehicle hub offering 150kW+ ultra-rapid charging alongside a self-serve car wash at Oaktree Business Park in Highbridge. The site, located next to the McDonald's drive-thru and accessed via the existing business park spine road, would feature CCS2-compatible chargers supported by new substations, electrical cabinets and lighting. Pre-application advice from Somerset Council indicates the land, allocated for employment use under the Sedgemoor Local Plan and Isleport 2 Business Park SPD, is suitable for this complementary commercial development.
Why it matters
The proposal adds a significant ultra-rapid charging node to the A38 corridor between Burnham-On-Sea and M5 Junction 22, targeting high-footfall retail and motorway traffic. For charge point operators and contractors, the 16-bay scale and co-location with established food and fuel amenities signal a competitive tender opportunity in Somerset's employment land pipeline.
Royal Air Force awards GeoPura contract for six hydrogen microgrid EV charging hubs to replace diesel generators
The Ministry of Defence has named Nottingham-based GeoPura as prime contractor to deploy six transportable hydrogen-powered EV charging hubs across RAF sites, replacing decades of diesel generator reliance. Each hub combines solar panels, hydrogen fuel-cell power units and battery storage to operate off grid, with the first two units entering service this summer and all six operational by October 2026. GeoPura will provide operations and support for three years following full deployment.
Why it matters
The contract signals defence sector appetite for zero-emission charging infrastructure that can operate independently of grid connection, a capability relevant to remote or resilient commercial charging deployments. It also validates hydrogen microgrid architecture at scale, with potential read-across to civilian CPO projects requiring off-grid or backup power solutions.
Wrexham Council offers residents 20% discount on 140 public EV chargers operated by Costelloes
Wrexham County Borough Council has announced a 20% charging discount for local residents across its network of over 140 EV chargepoints, delivered and maintained in partnership with Costelloes. Residents can apply for the discount via the Costelloes website and pay through the Clenergy App. Deputy Leader Cllr David A Bithell said the council plans to expand the network further to support the transition to electric vehicles.
Why it matters
The resident discount scheme demonstrates how local authorities can use pricing incentives to drive EV adoption and utilisation of public infrastructure. For CPOs and suppliers, it highlights the role of partnership models and app based payment systems in delivering council backed charging networks.
Electric Vehicles
KleanDrive, UK electric bus conversion specialist, enters administration
KleanDrive Ltd, an Essex based company that converts diesel vehicles to electric powertrains with a focus on buses, appointed administrators on 21 May 2025, according to a London Gazette notice published on 29 May. The firm, incorporated in December 2020, claims over 150 years of collective electric drivetrain experience among its team. No job losses have been confirmed at this stage.
Why it matters
The collapse of a specialist bus electrification provider signals ongoing financial pressures in the UK's EV conversion sector, potentially affecting fleet operators seeking cost effective alternatives to new electric buses. Procurement teams relying on retrofit solutions may need to reassess supplier risk and contingency plans.
ET Morris deploys Volvo FM Electric for steel transport operations
UK haulier ET Morris has put a Volvo FM Electric into service for steel transportation work. The deployment marks the company's adoption of battery electric heavy goods vehicles in its fleet operations. The Energyst reported the move as part of the firm's electrification strategy.
Why it matters
The case demonstrates real world uptake of electric HGVs in heavy industrial logistics, signalling growing depot charging demand and potential for fleet operators in metals and construction supply chains to follow suit.