Daily EV news · UK · 17 August 2026

RAW Charging activated a 14 bay charging hub at Chichester Gate Leisure Park on 17 August, comprising four 300kW ultra-rapid chargers, four 150kW units and six 22kW fast chargers. The site forms part of RAW's partnership with property firm Aberdeen, which now hosts more than 135 RAW charging bays across its UK portfolio. All bays offer contactless payment and the 300kW chargers can deliver a significant top up in around 20 to 30 minutes.

Why it matters: The hub demonstrates RAW's strategy of deploying high power infrastructure at leisure and retail destinations, a model that aligns dwell time with charging speed. The Aberdeen partnership signals a repeatable site acquisition route for charge point operators targeting managed property estates.

Public charging operator Allego has announced a €100 million (£85.5 million) investment to expand its UK network by 2030, targeting up to 1,400 ultra-rapid chargers at high-traffic locations along major roads and in urban areas. The CPO currently operates approximately 243 chargers in the UK, having entered the market in 2017, making this one of the largest commitments to UK public charging infrastructure this year. Allego is seeking partnerships with retail and hospitality businesses to host the new charging sites.

Why it matters: This represents a major procurement opportunity for site hosts and supply chain partners as Allego scales from 243 to potentially 1,643 chargers, signalling confidence that the UK market remains undersized compared to European peers. CPOs and contractors should note Allego's focus on high-traffic retail and hospitality partnerships, mirroring its European rollout strategy with brands like Burger King.

SparkCharge, an American distributed energy network, has announced its expansion into the UK, replicating its US model to provide independent power for autonomous vehicle fleets, construction sites and industrial operations requiring immediate energy access without grid connection. The company already operates across North America, serving commercial fleets, AV operators, data centres, events, ports and railheads. Founder and CEO Joshua Aviv said the demand for immediate, intelligent energy is a global story.

Why it matters: The UK launch addresses a procurement gap for operators deploying EV fleets or infrastructure ahead of grid capacity, offering an alternative energy source for sites needing power before mains connections are available. SparkCharge's model could accelerate rollout timelines for CPOs and fleet operators constrained by grid delays.

England is accelerating on-street EV charging deployment through the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, enabling councils to shift from pilot projects to borough-wide strategies. Wales has made progress but lacks the same pace, with local authorities facing competing funding priorities despite legal decarbonisation commitments. The article, published in Welsh community and business news, highlights the funding and delivery gap between the two nations.

Why it matters: The LEVI Fund model demonstrates how sustained capital backing enables councils to procure at scale and plan for long-term demand, a lesson for Welsh authorities and CPOs targeting multi-site rollouts. Without comparable investment frameworks, Welsh procurement may remain fragmented and slower to deliver the infrastructure needed to meet net zero targets.

The UK government has launched a 10-week consultation running until 23 October 2026 to review the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, proposing to ease annual electric vehicle sales targets for cars and vans between 2027 and 2035. While the 100% zero-emission target for 2035 remains fixed, the review considers lowering 2030 targets amid industry concerns over market demand and compliance costs. The consultation, conducted jointly by the UK, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments, seeks views on whether existing annual targets remain appropriate and on the effectiveness of current compliance flexibilities.

Why it matters: The consultation outcome will directly affect procurement timelines and compliance costs for fleet operators and charge point operators planning infrastructure rollouts to meet original 2030 targets. Any relaxation of interim targets could reduce near-term charging demand forecasts, influencing investment decisions and site development schedules across the UK.

The UK government has opened a review of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, which sets binding electric vehicle sales targets for manufacturers. Carmakers are lobbying for relaxed targets, while EVA England counters that the focus should shift to addressing high charging costs and consumer barriers rather than weakening the mandate.

Why it matters: Any softening of ZEV targets could slow fleet electrification and reduce near term demand for public charging infrastructure. Conversely, if government tackles charging costs and access barriers as EVA England suggests, CPOs may see stronger policy support for network expansion and pricing reform.