UK Government Announces £56 Million in Funding for EV Charging Infrastructure

The UK is set to get a boost in the deployment of EV charge points, thanks to a £56 million investment from public and industry funds. In an official statement published on GOV.UK on 21 February 2023, Transport Minister, Jesse Norman announced an expansion of the charging infrastructure with this funding. The initiative will help deliver up to 2,400 new charging points throughout the UK, with sixteen local authorities including Sunderland, Rotherham and Norfolk joining the effort for the first time.

The funding will expand the existing Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot and enhance the current On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS). Additionally, it will assist councils throughout England in obtaining dedicated resources to develop in-house expertise and capability to coordinate chargepoint plans and collaborate with private operators. This will help in delivering a more extensive and reliable network of charging points for drivers.

Jesse Norman in the announcement stated, “The government is giving local authorities across England additional help today to energise their chargepoint rollout 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.”

The UK government’s announcement of £56 million in funding for EV charging infrastructure is a significant step towards the country’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The investment will support the installation of thousands of new charging points, making it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles.