The UK government has announced £40.8 million (€48.5 million) in funding to install 16,000 new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers across 13 local authorities in the Midlands, aiming to support drivers without private parking.
The investment, part of the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, will benefit local councils in Lincolnshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, and other areas.
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Midlands Connect, a regional transport initiative, noted that around 31% of residents in the region lack off-street parking, making public charging expansion essential for EV adoption.
“Making charging as seamless and as easy as possible is crucial to making the switch to electric a success,” said UK Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood. “Rolling out over 16,000 chargers across the Midlands will make driving an EV cheaper and easier, especially for those without a driveway.” Greenwood added that the region currently has around 10,000 charging points.
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The LEVI fund, launched in 2022 with a total budget of £381 million (€453 million), supports commercial charging infrastructure projects across the UK. By October 2024, £242 million (€288 million) had already been allocated to local authorities for projects ranging from on-street chargers to larger hubs at petrol stations and roadside services.
Source: bbc.co.uk