The West Midlands will install 10,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charging connections over the coming years, as part of a major regional push to expand the UK’s charging infrastructure, local officials said on Monday.
With over 4,000 public charging points already in place, the West Midlands ranks fifth among English regions outside London. The new investment, announced by Mayor Richard Parker, will include nine ultra-fast charging hubs providing more than 200 additional high-speed charging points.
“The West Midlands is the beating heart of the UK car industry and I want us to lead the charge into a new era of electrification,” Parker said. “Our roadside EV charging network is already one of the fastest growing in the country, but I’m not stopping there. I’m giving the green light for 10,000 more charging connection points as part of our transport revolution.”
The expansion will be funded through the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The West Midlands Combined Authority will collaborate with local councils to deploy the new infrastructure.
In February, the region secured three locations for fast-charging hubs, each to be equipped with 20 DC chargers. The facilities, scheduled to open next year, will include covered bays and on-site amenities to support long-distance drivers.
Birmingham is already home to one of the country’s largest EV charging parks, located at the NEC conference centre. The site, launched in 2023, has capacity for up to 180 vehicles, including 30 high-power charge (HPC) points.
Source: wmca.org.uk
