UK to launch 16,000 new chargers in Midlands
Over a dozen local authorities successfully applied for the funding, including county councils in Lincolnshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and more.
According to Midlands Connect, a transport infrastructure initiative in the region, approximately 31 per cent of residents in the area do not have access to off-street parking. It said it hopes the increase in public charging points will make adoption easier.
UK Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) funding will be distributed across the Midlands, with a focus on smaller communities and rural areas: “Making charging as seamless and as easy as possible is crucial to making the switch to electric a success, and rolling out over 16,000 chargers across the Midlands will make driving an EV cheaper and easier, especially for those without a driveway.” She added that there are currently around 10,000 charging points in the region.
Launched in 2022, the £381m (€453m) LEVI fund aims to deliver commercial charging infrastructure for UK residents. Local authorities are able to bid for funding and then use it to develop charging infrastructure in partnership with private companies.
By October 2024, LEVI had already released £242m (€288m) worth of funding for local authorities, with this going towards a variety of infrastructure – ranging from on-street charging points to larger charging hubs at petrol stations and roadside services.
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