Daily EV news · UK · 21 October 2026
EV Charging
Depot Charging Scheme reopens 28 October with £38m for fleet infrastructure
The UK Government's Depot Charging Scheme will open its second funding window on 28 October 2026, running to 29 January 2027, with £38m available for commercial fleet charging infrastructure supporting zero emission HGVs, vans and coaches. The scheme is part of a £170m multi year commitment to 2030, following an initial £28m window in March 2026 that covered 70% of charge point and civil costs up to £1m per organisation. Funded projects must be delivered by 31 March 2028, with works expected to begin from April 2027.
Why it matters
Fleet operators and charge point installers have a three month window to secure substantial public funding for depot infrastructure, with grant rates and exact terms for this phase still to be confirmed. The scheme's structure, limiting applications to one per organisation but not capping site numbers, shapes how CPOs and contractors must approach multi site fleet electrification projects.
UK scraps planning permission for cross pavement EV chargers, cutting installation costs by up to £300
From 21 October 2026, UK drivers without driveways no longer need planning permission to install cross pavement chargers that run under pavements from homes to cars, saving up to £300 on installation and enabling home charging for as little as 2p per mile. The move comes as September 2026 saw nearly 100,000 electric cars sold in a single month, up 36% year on year, with over 190,000 drivers having used the government's Electric Car Grant to save up to £3,750 on new EVs. Cross pavement charging gives residents without off street parking access to cheaper domestic electricity rates, delivering potential running cost savings of up to £1,750.
Why it matters
Removing planning barriers for cross pavement chargers opens a major new residential charging segment for installers and charge point operators, particularly in urban areas where off street parking is scarce. The regulatory change could accelerate home charging deployment and shift demand patterns away from public infrastructure as more drivers access domestic tariffs.
Go Eve secures £750,000 to advance DockChain EV charging technology
Go Eve, a joint spin-out from University College Dublin and Imperial College London, has secured £750,000 in funding from Innovate UK and private investors. The funding will support an 18 month project to further develop DockChain, the company's patented technology that enables a single DC fast charger to serve multiple parking bays.
Why it matters
DockChain's ability to connect one DC fast charger to multiple bays could reduce infrastructure costs for fleet operators and CPOs expanding charging networks. The technology addresses a key procurement challenge of maximising charger utilisation across depot sites.
London EDGE Fund backs EVN Group for rapid charging rollout across capital
Sustainable Development Capital, managing the £50 million London EDGE Fund backed by the Greater London Authority, has agreed a facility with EVN Group to fund rapid EV charging sites in London and the M25 area. The first shovel ready site will host nine 300kW chargers with E.ON Drive Infrastructure UK Limited holding the offtake agreement. The facility will support a portfolio of sites underpinned by long term Framework Service Agreements with Charge Point Operators.
Why it matters
The deal provides capital for contracted charging infrastructure in a region where capacity remains scarce, offering CPOs a funded pipeline of ultra rapid sites with secured grid connections and long term offtake agreements already in place.
Octopus launches FleetBoost with up to 30% discount on public charging for UK fleets
Octopus Energy has introduced FleetBoost, a subscription service offering UK fleets up to 30% off public charging at networks including MFG EV Power, Ionity and Be.EV, with 99% of the UK now within 14 miles of a participating site. The platform, developed with Rightcharge, addresses rising costs where public charging accounts for 27% of fleet sessions but 57% of electricity spending in 2025, with some networks charging 93p per kWh compared to under 7p for home charging. Octopus negotiated the discounts by guaranteeing reliable vehicle throughput to keep chargers busy, with membership costs expected to be recovered in just two charging sessions.
Why it matters
The deal signals how aggregated fleet demand can unlock significant discounts from charge point operators seeking guaranteed utilisation, potentially reshaping procurement strategies for fleet operators struggling with public charging costs that far exceed home rates. CPOs may increasingly pursue similar volume based partnerships to secure steady revenue streams.
InstaVolt opens 16 ultra-rapid chargers at Serpentine Green Shopping Centre in Peterborough
InstaVolt has launched a new 16-bay ultra-rapid charging hub at Serpentine Green Shopping Centre in Hampton, Peterborough, operating 24/7. The site is located near Junction 17 of the A1, targeting local drivers, commuters and through traffic. Zapmap reported the opening on 21 October 2026.
Why it matters
The hub adds significant ultra-rapid capacity in a retail and motorway corridor location, illustrating InstaVolt's strategy of deploying large format sites with amenity access. For site hosts and competing CPOs, the 16-bay scale sets a benchmark for destination charging hubs in regional shopping centres.
Electric Vehicles
Private EV ownership jumps by nearly 100,000 in three months across UK
Almost 100,000 privately owned electric vehicles were registered in the UK between Q1 and Q2 2026, accounting for nearly two thirds of the country's overall EV growth, according to AA analysis of Department for Transport figures. England recorded 85,573 of the private registrations, with total UK electric car registrations reaching 2,016,968 by the end of June, up from 1,864,014 at the end of March. The surge represents an 8.2% quarterly increase, driven by soaring petrol and diesel prices and lower running costs for home charging.
Why it matters
The rapid expansion of private EV ownership intensifies demand for residential and destination charging infrastructure, creating procurement opportunities for CPOs targeting home, workplace and public networks. The shift from company to private ownership also signals a maturing market where charging accessibility and reliability become critical competitive factors.
Greater Manchester operates 500 electric buses with 163 more on order towards 2030 full electrification
Transport for Greater Manchester announced on 16 October 2026 that its Bee Network has surpassed 500 electric buses in operation, up from 35 vehicles three years earlier, with 163 additional units scheduled for delivery. The fleet now powers 99 Bee Network services entirely with zero emission vehicles, including the 500th bus manufactured by Wrightbus in Ballymena and delivered to Stagecoach's Oldham depot. TfGM states the electrification programme will cut annual emissions by more than 76,000 tonnes of CO2 and 280 tonnes of nitrogen oxides once complete, as the city region targets a fully electric bus fleet by 2030.
Why it matters
The rollout demonstrates sustained procurement momentum in a major UK city region, with depot electrification and vehicle orders creating ongoing opportunities for charging infrastructure suppliers and bus manufacturers. The scale of the transition and the 2030 deadline signal continued demand for depot charging hardware, grid connection work and maintenance contracts across Greater Manchester's expanding zero emission network.
Policy & Market
30 climate and health groups warn UK government against weakening ZEV mandate
A coalition of 30 organisations, including WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, has warned the UK government that diluting the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate would be an act of economic self harm. A formal consultation is underway exploring options to lower annual percentage targets for new zero emission cars and vans, with the Financial Times reporting that the Burnham administration is now considering a 60% target for 2030, up from an earlier proposal of 50% but down from the current 80% requirement. The 100% zero emission target for 2035 remains fixed.
Why it matters
Any weakening of the ZEV mandate could slow EV adoption rates and reduce the urgency for charge point operators to expand infrastructure ahead of 2030. Lower sales targets may also affect public sector procurement timelines and the business case for workplace and destination charging investments.