Drivers across the UK are set to benefit from improved electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, as the Government moves to electrify everywhere from Sunderland to Oxfordshire.
The £56m funding injection comes as part of an announcement from Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, who set out the Government’s plans to deliver 2,400 more chargepoints for the short term, and tens of thousands more in the long term.
The investment will expand the existing Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot as well as the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, with further ambitions to help local authorities across England develop the requisite in-house expertise and capability to be able to coordinate with the private sector and deliver the network upgrades effectively and efficiently.
Technology and Decarbonisation Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, said: “The Government is giving local authorities across England additional help today to energise their chargepoint roll-out plans. Today’s commitment will lead to thousands of new chargers being installed, and plans for tens of thousands extra in due course, so that more people than ever can make the transition to using EVs.”
In addition to enhancing the three original LEVI pilot programmes in Barnet, Durham and North Yorkshire, central government’s statement details plans to roll out pilot schemes in:
- Buckinghamshire
- Cumbria
- Hackney
- Harborough
- Hounslow
- Lancashire
- Norfolk
- Oxfordshire
- Rotherham
- Sunderland
- Waltham Forest
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- York
The new pilot areas will supported by £22m of government funding which will be further supplemented by £17m of private investment and £2m from local authorities.
Today’s announcement also sees the launch of the £8m LEVI Capability Fund which will help local powers upscale their plans and ambitions pertaining to their EV charging strategies.
