Search: Worcestershire

Irish operator EZO has been awarded a €206 million (£176 million) contract by the Fourth Midlands EV Infrastructure Consortium to install and operate 250 charging points across Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire over 15 years, serving around two million residents. The deal, funded by the UK government without direct council capital investment, follows EZO's €347 million (£300 million) 20 year contract in northern Scotland signed in October 2025. The two projects bring EZO's total UK contract value to €563 million (£476 million).

Why it matters: The consortium model demonstrates how local authorities can procure large scale charging networks without upfront capital, a template likely to be replicated elsewhere. EZO's rapid accumulation of half a billion euros in UK contracts signals both the scale of public sector procurement activity and the competitive advantage of operators able to finance and deliver multi county rollouts.

More than 20 local authorities, including Kent, Leicester, Worcestershire, Westminster and Hackney, refuse to permit charging cable gullies that let residents charge EVs from domestic supplies at 5% VAT instead of 20% at public points. The ban affects millions among the 9.3 million UK households without off street parking, particularly in London where EV ownership and on street parking are both highest. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has pledged to slash red tape and promote gullies, yet councils cite safety, legal and parking concerns.

Why it matters: The postcode lottery undermines the business case for domestic charge point operators and gully suppliers such as Kerbo Charge, Gul-e, Pavecross and ACO, fragmenting the market for on street residential charging infrastructure. Procurement teams and charge point operators face a patchwork of local rules that complicate rollout planning and limit addressable demand in high density urban areas.

Worcestershire County Council, working with Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire councils, has secured £3.5m from the Department for Transport's LEVI Fund alongside approximately £13m in private investment to deploy new EV charging infrastructure. EZO will deliver at least 64 rapid charge point sockets, while Connected Kerb will install 1,700 lower powered on street charge point sockets. Midlands Connect, the region's Sub-national Transport Body, supported the consortium in awarding the contracts.

Why it matters: The four council consortium demonstrates how regional collaboration can unlock substantial LEVI funding and private capital, with the split between rapid and on street provision offering a template for mixed deployment strategies. Procurement teams will note the dual supplier approach, separating rapid and residential charging delivery across a multi authority geography.

Fleet Alliance has deployed an electric vehicle salary sacrifice programme at Mortgage Brain, a Worcestershire mortgage solutions provider. Staff can choose new and used models from BMW, BYD, Hyundai, JAECOO, Porsche and Tesla, with Pod EV chargers also available. The scheme runs on Fleet Alliance's e-Fleet platform for vehicle ordering and service scheduling, and Mortgage Brain's CFO Alastair Brown reports 10% take up with expectations to reach 20%.

Why it matters: Salary sacrifice schemes drive workplace charging demand and fleet electrification, creating recurring installation opportunities for charge point operators. The 10% to 20% adoption trajectory signals predictable infrastructure requirements as more employers adopt similar programmes.

Worcestershire County Council has opened an interactive map inviting residents to suggest locations for new EV charge points across the county. The initiative, funded through the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles' Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure project, specifically targets residents without off street parking to ensure they are not excluded from the EV transition. Councillor Karl Perks, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, emphasised that access to reliable charging infrastructure remains a key concern for potential EV adopters without driveways or garages.

Why it matters: The public consultation approach allows local authorities to gather community input before issuing tenders, potentially reducing planning objections and improving site selection for charge point operators bidding on future Worcestershire contracts. LEVI funded schemes typically require competitive procurement, making early engagement with resident preferences valuable intelligence for CPOs preparing bids.