On July 13, 2025, the UK government revealed a £63 million investment aimed at accelerating the growth of the nation’s electric vehicles charging network.
The package focuses on improving access for households lacking private driveways and for public sector fleets, as part of a broader push to make EV adoption easier and more affordable.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander outlined the government’s commitment to overcoming one of the main hurdles to EV ownership: convenient charging. “We’re determined to remove the barriers for everyone considering the switch to electric vehicles, whether they have a driveway or not,” she explained, announcing new funding for local councils and public organizations to expand charging facilities.
A key element of the package is a £25 million fund for local authorities to develop cross-pavement charging solutions. These systems allow charging cables to run safely beneath pavements, connecting homes directly to parked cars and enabling residents to benefit from home electricity rates—potentially as low as 2p per mile. Officials say this technology could save drivers up to £1,500 per year compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.
In addition, the National Health Service (NHS) in England will receive £8 million to electrify ambulances and other medical vehicles across more than 200 locations. The funding supports the installation of over 1,200 new charging points at 62 NHS Trusts, cutting long-term fuel and maintenance costs by millions over the next 20 years.
The government also introduced a grant scheme to help businesses set up charging infrastructure for commercial fleets, including vans, lorries, and coaches, hastening the shift to zero-emission transport.
Currently, the UK boasts 82,000 public electric vehicles chargepoints, with new ones being installed every 30 minutes. The combination of government and private sector investment is expected to bring the total to over 180,000 by the end of the decade.
Separately, the government has pledged £2 billion over five years to bolster the domestic production of electric vehicles and related technologies, aiming to solidify the UK’s position as a global leader in the EV sector.
