Daily EV news · UK · 3 November 2026
EV Charging
West Sussex passes 1,000 live public EV charging sockets
West Sussex County Council reports 1,030 live sockets on its Chargepoint Network, delivered with Connected Kerb under a contract signed in November 2021, with first installations starting in mid-2022. Since May 2022 the network has recorded about 77,000 charging sessions from roughly 14,000 users, supplying around 1.79 million kWh. The rollout is facilitated by the Government-funded LEVI Pilot Scheme, with active charge points installed alongside passive underground infrastructure for future additional sockets.
Why it matters
The county shows how an on-street programme for residents without off-street parking can scale through a single delivery partner and LEVI Pilot funding. The passive infrastructure approach and evidence-led site selection offer a reference model for bidders and CPOs planning future expansion.
UK Depot Charging Scheme fails to reopen on schedule, with no new date given
The Government's Depot Charging Scheme did not reopen for applications on 28 October as the published timetable promised, and the application page link led to a missing page. Window two was due to run to 29 January 2027 and offers £38 million for projects starting from April 2027 and finishing by 31 March 2028. The Department for Transport has said only that an update will come "in due course", giving no reason and no new date.
Why it matters
Applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, so fleets and CPOs that had prepared day one bids face an unclear wait and possible disruption to project plans. Anyone supporting depot charging bids should keep documentation ready and avoid committing to timelines that depend on this funding until a date is confirmed.
Electric Vehicles
JCT600 opens its first Kia Platform Beyond Vehicle dealership in Doncaster
JCT600 has opened its first Kia Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) dealership on Wheatley Hall Road, Doncaster, sharing premises with JCT600 Changan Doncaster and the group's JCT600 Approved used vehicle outlet. The site will serve business and fleet customers across Doncaster and South Yorkshire, and will offer Kia's PV5 electric van in Cargo and Passenger configurations, the latter also available through the Motability scheme. It is JCT600's second light commercial vehicle franchise, alongside Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, for which the group runs five Van Centres.
Why it matters
A new dealer channel for purpose-built electric vans in South Yorkshire points to growing local fleet adoption, which is likely to create demand for depot and workplace charging. CPOs and installers serving business customers in the region may find new opportunities among fleets making the switch.
Volta EV chief executive urges fleet managers not to delay EV procurement while markets shift
In an opinion piece, Chris Chevalier-Moniz, CEO of EV charger supplier Volta EV, argues that businesses considering electric vehicles should not put procurement plans on hold while the car and van markets continue to change. He says there will always be new models, manufacturer plan changes or policy shifts, so waiting for things to settle will not necessarily make the decision easier. He recommends starting with how fleets operate day to day, including distances travelled, where vehicles park and how long they spend off the road, to work out what a switch would involve.
Why it matters
For CPOs and charger buyers, the piece reflects a supplier's push to move fleet customers from waiting to site and usage assessment, which can bring charging demand forward. It is an opinion from a vendor, so treat it as a sales perspective rather than market evidence.
Grid & Energy
Octopus Energy signs MoU with CATL's Ampace to develop next generation smart home batteries
Octopus Energy and Xiamen Ampace Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore smart home energy storage that pairs high-performance hardware with intelligent software. The work will draw on CATL and Ampace research into sodium-ion technology, high-density cell designs and ultra-long lifecycle systems, combined with Octopus's software platform, smart tariffs and Virtual Power Plant capabilities. The collaboration will initially explore opportunities across European markets where Octopus has retail energy offices, according to the announcement.
Why it matters
Connected home batteries that charge when energy is cleanest and cheapest and export at peak times add to the flexibility pool that charging operators and fleet depots compete with and can partner with. Lower cost chemistries such as sodium-ion could also reshape the economics of paired storage at charging sites, though the MoU is exploratory and commits to no products or volumes yet.
Octopus Energy · CATL · Ampace · Source
Policy & Market
UK fleet leasing, rental and logistics bodies call for ZEV mandate overhaul in consultation responses
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) filed a member-backed response to the consultation on the UK's zero-emission car and van sales quotas shortly before it closed last week. Rental members reported weak customer demand, operational barriers and short-term exposure to depreciation, and those representing a majority of the rental car fleet see no viable path to meeting the current 2030 trajectory. The rental sector's top priority is a reduction in the 2030 mandate levels, while leasing companies want confidence in electrification sustained and abrupt policy reversals avoided, as they manage falling residual values.
Why it matters
Pressure to lower 2030 mandate levels could slow fleet electrification and the charging demand that CPOs and installers are planning around. Leasing firms still want policy stability to protect investment, so procurement teams should watch how the government balances the two positions.