Nine regions to receive LEVI funding for charging infrastructure

Nine regions are set to benefit from a new pilot backed by £20 million of government and industry funding, according to a joint DfT / Office for Zero Emission vehicles statement.

Under the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot scheme, local authorities and industry will work together to create new, commercial EV charging infrastructure for residents, from faster on-street chargepoints to larger petrol station-style charging hubs.

The winners of the pilot fund are Barnet, Dorset, Durham, Kent, Midlands Connect (with Lincolnshire as a lead authority), North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and Warrington. It is is expected to deliver over 1,000 public chargepoints across the areas.

The LEVI fund follows the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) which has seen nearly 2,900 chargepoints installed.

Decarbonisation Minister Trudy Harrison said:

"This scheme will help to level up electric vehicle infrastructure across the country, so that everyone can benefit from healthier neighbourhoods and cleaner air."

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said:

"It is essential that more on-street chargers are delivered to boost the transition to zero emission vehicles for those without home charging.

This injection of an extra £20 million funding will help bring power to electric drivers across England from Durham to Dorset. This is one further positive step on the road to electrification."