The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the creation of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI) Support Service, a national programme designed to strengthen the rollout of EV charging infrastructure across England.
Set to begin operating by April 2026, the service will be delivered by a consortium comprising Energy Saving Trust, Cenex, and PA Consulting. It expands support beyond local authorities to a broader range of public sector organisations, including combined authorities, transport bodies, and other infrastructure stakeholders.
The EVI Support Service provides structured training programmes, one-to-one advisory sessions, technical modelling, procurement guidance, policy development assistance, and a centralised library of knowledge resources. Its purpose is to help public bodies navigate the complexities of EV infrastructure deployment, from early-stage planning and demand forecasting to contract management and long-term network optimisation.
Crucially, the service underpins major government funding initiatives. This includes the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI Fund), which has allocated £381 million since March 2022 to accelerate the development of local charging networks. The funding is designed not only to increase the number of public charge points but also to unlock significant private sector co-investment and create commercially sustainable delivery models. Current projections suggest the programme will support the installation of more than 100,000 additional public charge points across England.
Part of the LEVI programme has focused on strengthening in-house expertise within councils. Through dedicated capability funding, more than 350 specialist EV infrastructure officers have already been recruited by English local authorities, with further appointments underway. By March 2026, most LEVI-funded authorities are expected to have completed procurement processes to appoint charge point operators, marking a major milestone in England’s infrastructure pipeline.
Alongside LEVI, the EVI Support Service also assists with schemes such as the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant, which supports cross-pavement cable solutions for households without off-street parking — a key barrier to EV adoption in dense urban areas.
The broader ambition aligns with the UK Government’s legally binding net-zero commitments and the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035. Expanding reliable, accessible, and affordable public charging is widely seen as critical to meeting these targets, ensuring consumer confidence and enabling equitable access to electric mobility.
Nick Harvey, Senior Programme Manager at Energy Saving Trust, described the new service as a natural progression in national support for EV deployment. He noted that, after four years of LEVI implementation, the new framework provides a comprehensive “one-stop shop” for councils and public bodies — equipping them with the technical knowledge, strategic insight, and practical tools required to deliver inclusive and future-ready charging networks.
Robert Evans, Chief Executive of Cenex, said the organisation was pleased to build on its existing partnership under LEVI and transition into the broader EVI Support Service. He highlighted Cenex’s role in leading technical workstreams, including data modelling, mapping, and infrastructure planning, to ensure public sector organisations receive high-quality, evidence-based guidance. Evans added that collaboration between central government, local authorities, and delivery partners will be essential to accelerating transport decarbonisation at scale.
By expanding support beyond councils and strengthening national coordination, the EVI Support Service represents a significant step in England’s efforts to build a resilient, accessible, and investment-ready EV charging ecosystem.
Openreach Expands EV Fleet and Charging Network
In parallel, Openreach has reached a milestone with 5,000 electric vans now in operation as part of its ‘Let’s Reach Zero’ strategy to convert its entire 23,000-vehicle fleet. The company has installed over 2,500 chargers at depots and employee homes and partnered with First Bus to provide depot charging, addressing infrastructure gaps for those without off-street parking.
Public EV Charging Growth Across the UK
The UK added 8,670 new public charge points in the first half of 2025, a 27% year-on-year increase, bringing the total to over 82,000 charge points across 40,000 locations. Rapid charging hubs are also expanding, with 136 added to reach a cumulative national total of 673, supporting longer journeys and consumer confidence in EV adoption.
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