Daily EV news · UK · 11 September 2026

Tesla has applied to Somerset Council for a charging facility at the Wincanton Gateway site off the A303, featuring 16 supercharger units under a solar canopy, a substation and a battery energy storage unit. The site, adjacent to a McDonald's on the A371 Lawrence Hill, will use stored solar energy to reduce grid pressure, with a decision expected before Christmas. Planning Potential confirmed the network is open to all EVs, not Tesla vehicles exclusively.

Why it matters: The 16 bay hub with onsite solar and battery storage offers a model for grid friendly rapid charging infrastructure on strategic trunk roads. Somerset Council's pre Christmas decision timeline gives CPOs and contractors a near term signal for similar roadside developments.

Chery UK will introduce four new and updated models over the next 12 months, including its first fully electric vehicle in the UK market, alongside upgrades to its Chery Super Hybrid powertrains across the Tiggo 4, 7, 8 and 9 line. Since entering the UK market in August 2025, the brand has registered more than 29,000 vehicles, capturing over 2.5% market share. Models with the CSH hybrid system account for 75% of Chery UK's registrations.

Why it matters: The rapid expansion of Chery's electrified fleet, with hybrids already representing three quarters of sales, signals growing demand for charging infrastructure to support both plug in hybrid and full EV models across its dealer and fleet networks. The brand's swift market penetration and upcoming EV launch will likely drive new charging installation opportunities at retail and workplace sites serving Chery customers.

Charge point operator Believ marked World EV Day on 9 September by offering free charging and information at Newby Place in Tower Hamlets, where 17 chargers have now gone live as part of a fully funded partnership with Tower Hamlets Council to deploy more than 70 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers across 35 sites in the borough. The event ran from 10am to 4pm, with Believ staff answering questions about EV charging for residents, commuters, taxi drivers and businesses. Tower Hamlets has 93 per cent of homes lacking off-street parking, making accessible public charging critical for the transition to electric vehicles.

Why it matters: The rollout demonstrates how CPOs are using community engagement to support dense urban deployments where the vast majority of residents cannot charge at home. With 17 of 70 planned chargers already operational, the Tower Hamlets partnership offers a model for fully funded rapid and ultra-rapid infrastructure in high-traffic boroughs with limited private parking.

The UK government will charge battery electric vehicle drivers 3 pence per mile and plug-in hybrid drivers 1.5 pence per mile starting 1 April 2028, with the Office for Budget Responsibility estimating an annual bill of £255 (around $348) for drivers covering 8,500 miles. Drivers will report odometer readings when renewing vehicle excise duty, paying upfront or in instalments, with rates rising with inflation from 2029. US states are exploring similar mileage based taxation as EV adoption reduces fuel duty revenues.

Why it matters: The policy signals a shift in total cost of ownership for fleet operators and charge point hosts, potentially dampening EV uptake rates that underpin infrastructure investment cases. Procurement teams must factor rising operating costs into business models, while CPOs may see demand patterns change if drivers reduce mileage to avoid per mile charges.