Daily EV news · UK · 17 September 2026
EV Charging
TUAL deploys battery-buffered PowerUp Chargers at three SP Energy Networks sites in UK
TUAL has installed its PowerUp Charger technology at SP Energy Networks locations in Middlewich, Liverpool, and Cambuslang near Glasgow, following a successful pilot in Cheshire. The system combines integrated battery energy storage with high-power DC charging to overcome grid constraints, enabling 30-minute charging sessions for fleet vehicles during breaks and re-stock visits. The technology reduces civil engineering requirements and offers flexibility to relocate chargers if site needs change.
Why it matters
Battery-buffered charging solutions like PowerUp allow fleet operators to deploy DC fast charging at grid-constrained sites without costly infrastructure upgrades, accelerating commercial EV rollouts. The three-site deployment demonstrates how energy network operators are adopting flexible charging technologies to electrify mission-critical fleets with tight operational schedules.
Zapgo opens 10-bay ultra-rapid hub in Barrow with 200kW Alpitronic chargers
Zapgo has launched its largest charging site to date in Barrow-in-Furness at Sowerby Wood Business Park, featuring 10 bays served by five 200kW Alpitronic ultra-rapid chargers, including two accessible bays. The hub addresses a severe infrastructure gap in an area with just 0.05 public chargers per electric vehicle and is one of only three ultra-rapid sites serving 60,000 residents and 18 to 19 million annual Lake District visitors. Zapgo is offering an introductory rate of 50p per kWh until 28 September 2026 and has partnered with local businesses for site maintenance.
Why it matters
The deployment demonstrates how CPOs are targeting underserved northern England locations with high-capacity hardware to capture both resident and tourist demand. The local maintenance partnership model and accessible-bay provision may inform future procurement specifications for rural and semi-urban hubs.
Policy & Market
ZEV mandate U-turn risks capital flight to Europe, warns Zest
Zest CEO Robin Heap has warned that weakening the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate could drive international investors to pull funding from the country's EV charging network ahead of the government's 23 October consultation deadline. Battery electric vehicle registrations rose 27.7% year on year in August according to SMMT data, yet Heap argues that infrastructure investment requires long-term policy certainty because it must be deployed well ahead of demand. He cautioned that diluting the demand signal risks creating a cycle where consumers avoid switching without convenient charging and investors withhold capital without confidence in future uptake.
Why it matters
CPOs and infrastructure funders depend on stable regulatory frameworks to justify multi-year capital commitments, and any retreat from the ZEV mandate could redirect European and international finance away from UK projects. The warning underscores the tension between short-term political pressure and the lead times required to build charging networks at scale.