Essex County Council has been awarded £8 million in funding from the UK government to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as part of efforts to improve access for residents and accelerate EV adoption.
The funding comes from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme and represents one of the largest allocations made to a local authority under the programme. The investment will support a partnership between the council and private charge point operators to deploy new charging infrastructure across the county.
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Essex County Council said the funding could enable the installation of up to 5,000 public charging points by 2031, with work scheduled to begin this summer. The rollout will primarily target on-street locations and public car parks, addressing gaps for residents who do not have access to private home charging.
Councillor Dan Land, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said the initiative aims to broaden access to electric mobility. “A growing number of people in Essex have already switched to an electric vehicle and are enjoying up to £1,400 in savings per year from fuel and maintenance costs. We want to support more of our residents to reap the benefits,” he said.
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“Installing more public charging points can be vital for people without access to home charging. It also provides convenient access for drivers to charge their vehicles when they’re away from home or on a longer journey,” he added.
The funding follows the completion of a separate programme earlier this month that delivered 62 public charging points across locations including Basildon, Brentwood, Colchester, and Harlow.
The initiative is part of the council’s broader Electrifying Essex campaign, which aims to promote EV adoption and expand the availability of charging infrastructure throughout the region.
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The UK government has been increasing support for local authorities through schemes such as LEVI to address infrastructure gaps and support the transition to zero-emission transport, particularly for households without off-street parking.