Daily EV news · UK · 24 August 2026

Doncaster has placed among the UK's top 10 cities for electric vehicle ownership in a study by Wolf River Electric covering 56 locations, recording 617.55 EVs per 10,000 people and electricity costs of £67.45. The city achieves 6.90% of properties with charging facilities, one of the stronger residential access rates in the research, though its public charging network remains comparatively underdeveloped relative to EV numbers.

Why it matters: The gap between high EV adoption and limited public infrastructure in Doncaster signals untapped demand for charge point operators and highlights how residential provision can partially offset public network shortfalls in procurement planning.

Tower Hamlets has begun installing on-street EV chargers in a project fully funded by Believ, targeting a borough where 93% of homes lack off-street parking. Early locations include White Horse Lane, Stepney Green and Chrisp Street, with a mix of dedicated EV bays and shared standard bays designed to protect existing parking access. The rollout supports the council's Climate Emergency Plan by cutting transport emissions.

Why it matters: The project demonstrates how private funding can unlock on-street charging in high-density urban areas with minimal off-street parking. Believ's full-funding model and the mix of bay types offer a template for councils seeking to expand EV infrastructure without upfront capital outlay.

Connected Kerb has notified Shropshire Council that it will review charging tariffs across its network in response to significant increases in national electricity transmission and distribution charges taking effect from April 2026. The charge point operator expects to confirm any tariff changes by 10 September 2026, with revised rates taking effect no earlier than 14 September 2026. Connected Kerb is exploring options to minimise customer impact, including new energy supply arrangements and lower cost smart charging services.

Why it matters: The announcement signals how rising network costs from April 2026 may force CPOs to adjust pricing models, with implications for contract terms and revenue forecasts across local authority partnerships. Operators and councils will need to monitor whether similar tariff reviews emerge industry wide as transmission and distribution charges increase.

A study by Wolf River Electric has placed Portsmouth 56th out of 56 UK cities and towns for electric vehicle ownership, with an overall score of 16.47. While the city records 49 charging points per 1,000 EVs, one of the stronger infrastructure scores, it is held back by low EV uptake at just 10 EVs per 10,000 people and the highest electricity costs in the study with a normalised score of 56. The research assessed factors including charging infrastructure, electricity costs, EV adoption, property access, repair services and local emissions.

Why it matters: The findings highlight that charging infrastructure alone does not guarantee a strong EV market, with electricity costs and adoption rates playing critical roles in shaping demand for charge point operators. Portsmouth's weak performance despite decent infrastructure may signal limited near term growth opportunities for CPOs in the area unless broader economic and adoption barriers are addressed.

Weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate by reducing the 2030 zero emission car sales target from 80% to 50% could delay up to £1.56bn in UK home charge point sales and installations by 2034, according to trade association BEAMA. The analysis, following the Government's 14 August review launch, estimates up to 1.7 million fewer home charge point sales and a reduction in flexible EV charging capacity by as much as 12GW by 2034. BEAMA warned that manufacturers had incorporated existing ZEV Mandate targets into investment plans worth approaching £100m, which could now be reviewed.

Why it matters: The potential policy shift threatens to undermine planned infrastructure investments and delay the rollout of smart charging capacity needed to meet the Government's Clean Flexibility Roadmap target of 4.5GW from EV smart charging by 2030. CPOs and charge point manufacturers face uncertainty over demand forecasts and investment commitments tied to the original mandate trajectory.