New fund to overcome EV charging power challenges on UK roads

The government has announced a £10 million fund to develop innovative solutions to overcome grid constraints when it comes to installing electric vehicle chargers on the strategic road network, including more rural areas.

Private operators are invited to apply for a share of the funding to develop solutions using renewable energy sources such as solar, alongside energy storage systems like batteries, to avoid the need for expensive grid upgrades at ‘harder-to-power’ locations.

The solution will be targeted at hard-to-treat, grid-constrained sites where high costs or long timescales would otherwise delay chargepoint provision. 

To be considered for funding, projects must enable at least 12 EVs to access ultra-rapid charging.

The competition, lead by Innovate UK, is open until 25 March 2026.

Claire Spooner, director of mobility, Innovate UK, said: "Launching this competition, Innovate UK will test new approaches to the EV charging power challenges on England’s strategic road network, especially in rural areas. The programme’s outcomes will build capability and bring together energy and transport stakeholders to improve EV charging for longer journeys."