The government has announced a major £63 million funding package to accelerate the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution — making greener, cheaper transport more accessible for families,
businesses, and public services.
Driving down costs, expanding access
This investment aims to break down barriers to EV ownership by expanding charging infrastructure nationwide. It includes:
£25 million for local authorities to help households without driveways access cheaper at-home charging, saving drivers up to £1,500 a year compared to petrol or diesel cars. New cross-pavement technology will safely connect parked cars to household electricity, offering charging costs as low as 2p per mile.
£8 million for NHS sites in England to install EV chargers and electrify ambulance and medical vehicle fleets at over 200 locations — saving millions in fuel and maintenance costs that can be reinvested into frontline care.
A new grant scheme for businesses to install chargers at depots, supporting the shift to zero-emission vans, HGVs, and coaches across the UK.
Building on a growing EV network
This new funding builds on the UK’s expanding charging infrastructure, which has reached 82,000 public chargepoints — with one added every 30 minutes — and a further 100,000 set to be installed thanks to the Local EV Infrastructure Fund and £6 billion in private investment by 2030.
To improve long-distance travel, the government is also updating road signage rules, allowing larger EV charging hubs to be signposted from major A-roads for the first time.
Boosting jobs, growth, and green industry
This package is part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at growing the economy, creating thousands of green jobs, and making life more affordable for working people. Recent updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate will make it easier for British manufacturers and logistics firms — employing over 1.2 million people — to embrace the transition to electric.
A fairer, cleaner future for all
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“We are making it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle. We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, so we are tackling that head on so that everyone - whether or not they have a driveway - can access the benefits of going electric.
Our investment is about more than just charging points – it’s about charging up Britain’s economy. I’m proud that through this boost, we are helping deliver cheaper bills for families, massive savings for the NHS to reinvest in patient care, and thousands of new green jobs.
This is what our Plan for Change mission to kickstart Britain’s economy looks like in practice. We’re not just boosting charging infrastructure, we’re building a fairer, cleaner future where every family can benefit from cheaper, greener transport, whilst creating thousands of good jobs across the country”.
The government has already committed £400 million to EV infrastructure through previous initiatives, alongside a record £1.6 billion to fix potholes and a continued 5p fuel duty cut frozen until Spring 2026.
EV market on the rise
Britain’s EV market is booming, with the UK becoming Europe’s largest EV market in 2024 and the third-largest globally. Over 382,000 electric vehicles were sold last year, a 20% increase from 2023. Prices are also becoming more accessible — 2 in 5 used EVs now cost under £20,000, and 34 new models are priced below £30,000.
As part of this momentum, over 1,200 new charging sockets will help modernise NHS services while saving taxpayers millions over the next two decades.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said:
“This is a win-win: cheaper travel for the NHS and cleaner air for our communities.
As part of our Plan for Change, we’re investing in green energy to build an NHS fit for the future — cutting pollution and saving millions in fuel costs”.
Edmund King, AA president, said:
“There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight. Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future.
It is great to see more support for those without off-street parking so that they can also benefit from the EV revolution”.
Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt said:
“We are pleased that the government has taken the crucial step of delivering official EV charging signage on the strategic road network - a move we believe will improve consumer confidence and bolster EV adoption. This marks a major milestone for the EV industry and drivers across the UK.
At InstaVolt, we have been relentless in our campaigning and have built a strong, collaborative relationship with the government to push this initiative forward. Our opinion research suggests that the rollout of clear, official signage will make a significant difference—helping EV drivers easily locate public charging points while on the move, and reassuring those considering making the switch to electric vehicles.
For years, we have emphasized that the UK’s public EV infrastructure, so critical to mass adoption, is already largely in place, and now this signage will finally showcase it to drivers in a visible, accessible way.”
As the UK’s largest ultra-rapid public charging network with over 2,000 chargers nationwide, InstaVolt is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation and excited to see how these signs will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles”.
Ian Johnston, CEO, Osprey:
“Signage impacts all the UK’s drivers because consumers need to see it to believe it. Osprey have tirelessly highlighted the benefit that clear EV road signage would bring to drivers looking to make the switch and to the charging businesses installing the critical infrastructure underpinning transport decarbonisation.
This is a welcome first step and we look forward to continuing to work closely with ministers and officials to achieve clear signage for the hundreds of high-quality EV charging hubs being opened across the nation”.
NHS Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Gormley said:
“The NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that reduce emissions and drive significant cost savings, all while improving patient care.
This new £8 million investment, across 62 NHS Trusts and around 224 sites, supports the renewed commitment in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to deliver a more sustainable NHS while also helping hospitals to save millions on fuel and maintenance costs and reducing air pollution. These savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities”.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said:
«With 82,000 public charge points already installed across the UK, this positive action on strategic road signage will help more drivers see the extensive charging network that’s rapidly being built across the country. This has been a priority for our industry and will boost consumer confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles.
Our members are investing £6 billion to ensure the deployment of charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. Today’s announcement shows government recognising the vital role charging plays in the transition, and we look forward to working together to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s leading EV market”.
