Councils set to bid for EV charging points cash

Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council have joined a consortium which aims to apply for tens of millions of pounds to install more electric vehicle charging points across the region.

A total of 13 councils from across the Midlands have joined together to create two partnerships who will bid for almost £40 million from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.

The bids will be submitted alongside sub-national transport body Midlands Connect.

Analysis by Midlands Connect found that the Midlands needs 17,461 new public EV charging points by the end of 2025 to meet the needs of the growing EV market.

Estimates suggest the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging points will also create an influx of jobs in the region, with over 42,000 related roles set to be created in the Midlands by the end of 2032.

In 2022, Midlands Connect together with five councils secured £1 million of funding through the LEVI Fund Pilot and that cash is expected to attract an additional £2.8 million of private sector investment to roll out 322 standard and 27 rapid EV charging points across the Midlands.

Charge points are expected to be installed for this project in summer 2024.

Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect, said: “We are delighted the Government has allocated funding over £39.3 million for 13 councils across the Midlands. This will really help the region to charge ahead of the pack.

“This is a vital next step in our efforts to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the region ahead of the phase out of sales of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030.

“This funding will improve the lives of those living in the Midlands, particularly for those who do not have access to off-street parking and may struggle to charge their vehicle otherwise.”