Daily EV news · UK · 5 October 2026
EV Charging
RAW Charging and Hubber open 14-bay ultra-rapid hub in Aberdeen city centre
RAW Charging has launched a 14-bay ultra-rapid charging hub on Palmerston Road in central Aberdeen, comprising 10 bays at 150 kW and 4 bays at 300 kW, including two priority bays. Delivered in partnership with Hubber, the site is described as Aberdeen's largest ultra-rapid hub and targets local drivers and through traffic. A free charging launch week ran on 7 and 8 October, with free hot drink vouchers for users charging between 9am and 2pm.
Why it matters
The 14-bay deployment marks a significant city-centre rollout in Scotland's North East, signalling continued appetite for high-power urban hubs and partnerships between charge point operators and property or infrastructure specialists. The mix of 150 kW and 300 kW units reflects evolving procurement strategies to balance cost, power demand and vehicle compatibility.
RAW Charging · Hubber · Source
Peterborough City Council seeks approval for £1.076 million to deploy over 1,000 public EV chargers with Believ
Lewis Banks, Transport and Environment Manager at Peterborough City Council, submitted a report on 1 October requesting Council Cabinet approval to deploy £1.076 million in public funding to support a rollout of more than 1,000 public EV chargers by private firm Believ. The funding comes from Peterborough's allocation of the UK Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, part of £5.44 million available to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The report also seeks approval to award a long term concession contract to Believ for installation, operation and maintenance of on street chargepoints following a competitive procurement process.
Why it matters
The proposal demonstrates how UK local authorities are using LEVI co investment to de risk private sector EV infrastructure deployment at scale. For charge point operators and contractors, the competitive tender outcome and concession structure offer a model for securing publicly backed rollout contracts in other LEVI funded regions.
Humax launches 22kW MX Pro charger with pre-wiring system for UK fleet depots
Humax EV Charging has unveiled the MX Pro, a 22kW commercial charger targeting UK corporate fleets, depots, workplaces and multi-tenant residential sites, debuting at Fleet & Mobility Live in Birmingham. The unit features an MX Ready pre-wiring architecture that lets sites install backplates and dummy covers in advance, enabling phased expansion without repeated electrical work, plus daisy-chain connectivity and dynamic load balancing across multiple units. It supports OCPP 1.6J with upgrade paths to OCPP 2.0.1, integrates with Monta and Fuuse platforms, offers AutoCharge and ISO 15118-2 Plug & Charge authentication, and includes a 4G eSIM for remote network switching.
Why it matters
The pre-wiring and modular expansion approach directly addresses the capital and disruption costs that deter fleet operators from scaling depot charging, while open OCPP and multi-platform integration give procurement teams vendor flexibility. Built-in 4G and Plug & Charge reduce ongoing operational overhead for CPOs managing large multi-site rollouts.
Humax launches MX Pro 22kW charger with modular backplate system for UK fleet sites
Humax EV Charging has introduced its MX Pro 22kW commercial charger to the UK market, targeting fleet, depot and workplace installations. The unit features a modular backplate architecture that allows sites to be pre-wired with protective dummy covers before chargers are needed, enabling phased deployment as fleet demand grows. The system includes daisy-chain connectivity to reduce cabling and dynamic load balancing across multiple units.
Why it matters
The MX Ready backplate approach addresses a common procurement pain point by decoupling electrical infrastructure work from charger installation timelines, potentially lowering upfront capital risk for fleet operators planning staged rollouts. Open CPMS integration and intelligent vehicle authentication also simplify multi-vendor depot environments.
Zapgo opens 200kW ultra-rapid charging site at Livingston garden centre
EV charge point operator Zapgo has launched a new ultra-rapid charging site at Klondyke Garden Centre in Livingston, West Lothian, featuring two bays served by a 200kW charger. The site sits three minutes from the A71 and is positioned to serve an estimated 7.5 million to 9.5 million annual journeys between Edinburgh and Ayrshire. The location offers drivers access to a garden shop, outdoor plant area and Topiary Coffee Shop while charging.
Why it matters
The deployment addresses a historically limited public charging network in Livingston as local EV adoption grows, and demonstrates the garden centre model for combining charging infrastructure with customer amenities on a major Scottish route.
Electric Vehicles
Renault Megane E-Tech Electric launches from £28,245 after UK grant with 306-mile range
Renault has priced its new Megane E-Tech Electric from £28,245 on the road after the £3,750 UK electric car grant. The model offers up to 306 miles of range and can rapid charge in 24 minutes, featuring Google Gemini technology integration.
Why it matters
A sub £30,000 price point for a 306-mile range EV increases accessible electric vehicle adoption in the UK fleet market, potentially driving demand for workplace and destination charging infrastructure as more cost-conscious buyers enter the EV segment.
Electric van sales reach 9.6% in September 2026, still short of 24% ZEV Mandate target
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported that 4,832 electric vans were registered in September 2026, capturing 9.6% of the market against a 24% ZEV Mandate target for the year. Year to date figures show electric models at 10.8% of all light commercial vehicle sales, despite September marking a record month with registrations up 13.4% year on year. The SMMT attributed the shortfall to high upfront vehicle costs and depot upgrade expenses, though the Plug-in Van Grant and over 40 available electric van models have supported growth.
Why it matters
The gap between actual electric van uptake and regulatory targets signals sustained demand for depot charging infrastructure as fleet operators face compliance pressure. High depot upgrade costs identified by the SMMT point to ongoing opportunities for charge point operators and installers serving the commercial vehicle sector.
Grid & Energy
EP Cube unveils 10 kVA residential storage system and 7.4 kW EV charger for UK market
EP Cube, a Canadian Solar subsidiary, showcased its EP CUBE Single-Phase 2.0 residential energy storage system and Three-Phase Light C&I Solution at Solar & Storage Live UK 2026 in Birmingham. The residential system offers 5 to 40 kWh modular lithium-iron phosphate storage, a 10 kVA hybrid inverter supporting up to 15 kW of PV capacity, and integrates with a forthcoming 7.4 kW AC EV charger and smart home app. The all-in-one units stack 5 kWh battery packs and include dynamic tariff pricing AI for connected home energy management.
Why it matters
The integrated 7.4 kW charger and storage platform targets the UK residential retrofit and new-build market, offering procurement teams a single-vendor solution for PV, battery and EV charging installations. Dynamic tariff optimisation may appeal to installers and housing developers seeking to differentiate smart-home propositions in a competitive residential energy market.
Policy & Market
UK drivers without home charging face £1,000 extra annual cost, with £200 from VAT disparity
Electric vehicle drivers reliant on public chargers pay over £1,000 more per year than those charging at home, with approximately £200 of that gap attributable to higher VAT on public charging, according to new data cited by Leasing Options. Chief operating officer Mike Thompson warned the cost disparity could deter EV adoption among the millions of UK households dependent on on-street parking. The figures emerge amid renewed calls to equalise VAT rates between home and public charging.
Why it matters
The £1,000 annual cost gap underscores the commercial challenge for charge point operators serving on-street and public locations, where higher VAT and operational costs already squeeze margins. Policymakers and CPOs face pressure to deliver pavement and kerbside solutions that close the affordability divide for drivers without private driveways.