Transport for Wales opens EV planning tool to local authorities

All 22 local authorities in Wales now have free access to ChargePoint Navigator, a tool designed to help councils select and plan new sites for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It's the first time the tool has been made available nationally outside of England.

The tool itself was developed as part of a collaboration between Field Dynamics, Cenex, ZapMap and UK Power Networks. It effectively gives local authorities a dashboard full of data regarding network cabling, pavement sizes, off-street parking availability, charging requirements, household coverage, grid network data and much more. On the tool’s website, it’s described as streamlining ‘the entire process of chargepoint installation, from site selection to connection cost information’.

Although ChargePoint Navigator has been available to all local authorities in the UK Power Networks licence area, it’s predominantly only been adopted in London and the East / South East of England – by 133 councils, to be precise. However, this implementation by Transport for Wales marks the first time it’s been rolled out a national scale on a free basis outside of England. TfW states that, thanks to the tool, ‘every Local Authority in Wales will now have access to a common evidence base, supporting consistent, transparent and value for money investment in charging infrastructure aligned with national transport policies.’

Calling it a ‘key step in delivering the Wales Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan’, TfW has described it as a way of achieving a ‘more coordinated, data-led’ approach to EV charging across Wales’.

“As Wales’ EV charging network matures, our focus is shifting from simply increasing charger numbers to ensuring provision is fair, strategic and meets the needs of communities across the country,” said Tony Clayton, TfW’s EV Infrastructure Programme Manager. “ChargePoint Navigator supports this by bringing consistent data and shared expertise into one place, helping us raise standards and ensuring EV infrastructure contributes fully to our wider transport and decarbonisation ambitions.”

Craig Stephenson, Managing Director of Field Dynamics, added: “Local Authorities play a critical role in shaping how EV charging infrastructure is delivered on the ground. It’s vital they have the right data and tools at their fingertips to make informed decisions and to actively shape outcomes.”