Daily EV news · UK · 9 September 2026
EV Charging
BBC programme to feature Flintshire disabled driver blocked from on-street EV charging
BBC's Rip Off Britain will broadcast on 10 September an item on Flintshire County Council's refusal to allow residents without driveways to install EV chargers, three years after the authority identified the need for a solution. Connah's Quay resident Phil Woods, a disabled driver, was forced to surrender his Motability electric vehicle and return to petrol because the council does not permit on-street charging installations, leaving him to use overnight public chargers or late-night Tesla Superchargers at extra cost.
Why it matters
The case underscores how local authority policy gaps can block EV adoption among vulnerable groups and highlights the procurement challenge of delivering equitable on-street charging infrastructure. It also signals growing media and public scrutiny of councils that have yet to deploy residential charging solutions despite long-standing commitments.
Half of UK councils still lack on-street EV charging despite infrastructure growth
More than 90% of UK councils have installed at least one public EV charger, but 50% still offer no on-street charging for residents without driveways, according to a Freedom of Information request by Vauxhall conducted between May and July 2026. The proportion of councils with on-street provision rose from 31% in 2023 to 39% in 2026, while 32% now have a published on-street residential charging strategy and 46% employ a dedicated EV policy officer, up from 31% in 2023. Over 70% of on-street chargers installed by the end of 2025 were concentrated in London, highlighting persistent regional disparity.
Why it matters
The findings reveal a significant procurement gap for on-street charging infrastructure outside London, signalling untapped opportunities for charge point operators and local authority tenders targeting the 40% of UK drivers without private driveways. The rise in councils appointing dedicated EV officers and publishing strategies suggests an increasing pipeline of formal procurement processes over the next few years.
TUAL deploys battery-buffered chargers at three SP Energy Networks depots in England and Scotland
TUAL is rolling out its PowerUp Charger technology to three SP Energy Networks sites in Middlewich, Liverpool and Cambuslang near Glasgow, following a pilot in Cheshire. The system combines battery storage with high-power DC charging to deliver ultra-rapid charging within 30-minute operational breaks, avoiding grid upgrades and civil works at locations where conventional infrastructure is constrained.
Why it matters
Battery-buffered chargers let fleet operators deploy ultra-rapid DC infrastructure quickly at grid-constrained depots, cutting civil costs and downtime. The relocatable design also offers flexibility if site leases or network plans change.
SP Energy Networks deploys Tual battery-buffered chargers at three depots after Middlewich pilot
SP Energy Networks is rolling out Tual's PowerUp battery-buffered DC chargers to depots in Liverpool and Cambuslang near Glasgow, following a successful pilot in Middlewich, Cheshire. The technology stores grid power onsite and delivers ultra-rapid charging within 30-minute vehicle dwell periods, bypassing grid connection delays and site constraints. The deployment supports electrification of the network operator's operationally critical fleet.
Why it matters
Battery-buffered charging offers a procurement route around grid upgrade timelines for depot operators needing rapid DC charging without waiting for reinforcement. The rollout demonstrates how energy storage can unlock fleet electrification at constrained sites, a model relevant to utilities and emergency responders with tight operational windows.
UK's first multi-energy commercial vehicle hub breaks ground in Sheffield
Construction has started on the UK's first clean multi-energy refuelling hub for trucks and vans at Smithywood Business Park near M1 Junction 35 in Sheffield. Developed by Aegis Energy, the site will offer electric charging and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) refuelling, alongside driver welfare facilities and secure overnight parking. The hub is scheduled to open in spring 2027 and forms part of Aegis Energy's planned nationwide network of clean energy refuelling sites for commercial fleets.
Why it matters
This project establishes a new infrastructure model combining electric charging with alternative fuels for heavy commercial vehicles, addressing a critical gap in the UK's low carbon logistics transition. For procurement teams and charge point operators, the multi-energy approach and motorway proximity offer a template for future fleet refuelling hubs serving long haul and urban delivery operators.
MFG EV Power passes 1,450 ultra-rapid chargers, claims over 10% of UK rapid network
Motor Fuel Group has installed 243 new ultra-rapid charging bays across 39 sites in 2026 to date, bringing its total network to more than 1,450 ultra-rapid chargers. The forecourt operator, which is investing over £400 million in EV infrastructure, says its network now represents over 10% of the UK's entire rapid charging infrastructure and has powered more than 250 million electric miles this year. MFG targets over 3,000 ultra-rapid chargers across 500 sites by 2030, with nearly 300 Morrisons supermarkets already hosting its charging bays.
Why it matters
MFG's scale and co-location strategy with high-footfall retail partners sets a benchmark for forecourt-led charging rollout, while its 10% market share claim signals consolidation among major CPOs. The £400 million investment and 2030 target offer a clear pipeline for equipment suppliers and construction firms tendering into the UK rapid-charging segment.
Cybersecurity and signed firmware top UK EV charging priorities as 96 per cent report firmware bugs hit sessions
A Versinetic study released on World EV Day found that 59 per cent of EV charging professionals in the UK rank stronger cybersecurity and signed firmware as a top priority. The research revealed that 96 per cent of respondents report known firmware bugs have affected charging sessions, highlighting reliability gaps in current infrastructure.
Why it matters
The findings signal that firmware quality and security are critical procurement criteria for charge point operators, with near universal experience of bugs disrupting service. Buyers may increasingly demand signed firmware and stronger cybersecurity guarantees in tender specifications.