The Government has unveiled a £70 million pilot scheme to boost the number of ultra-rapid charging points at motorway services.

Announced by Transport Secretary Mark Harper at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai this week, the pilot will boost electrical network capacity at up to 10 sites in England, helping the private sector to install high-powered chargers at them, and ensure networking capacity is "future proofed" for at least 10 years to 2035.

Motorway services have been earmarked the cash because the Government is aware of how crucial these areas are for long distance journeys and to "accelerate future EV purchases". The pilot will be delivered by National Highways and a 10-week consultation has been launched to establish where the chargers are needed most. 

 Harper said: “This Government is on the side of drivers, and working with the private sector to provide robust chargepoint infrastructure is part of our Plan for Drivers, with today’s announcement paving the way for more ultra-rapid chargepoints.

“This £70 million pilot scheme is the starting point and sends a message to consumers and industry that we are investing wisely and rapidly to grow the future of transport in the UK.”

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals BEVs (battery electric vehicles) grabbed a 16.3% share of the UK’s new car market from January to November this year – that's up from 15.1% in the same period in 2022.

Motorway chargers are needed to "accelerate EV purchases", says Government