The Government has announced a £63m investment package to break down barriers to electric vehicle ownership and boost charging infrastructure across the UK.

The major EV investment – which follows ongoing calls from EV stakeholders for support – will streamline charging for families, fleets/businesses and the public sector.

Funding includes a £25m scheme to support home charging for households without driveways. Full details are still be announced but it will connect more homes and local authorities with cross-pavement technology that will allow cables to run safely beneath pavements, enabling more EV drivers to tap into cheaper domestic electricity rates.

On the fleet side, the Government is also launching a major new grant scheme to help businesses install charging points at depots nationwide, supporting the nation’s heavy goods vehicles, vans and coach drivers in the transition to zero emissions.

The NHS in England also gets a major sustainability upgrade with an £8m fund to power the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across over 200 NHS sites, saving £120m in costs, which can be invested into patient care. The Department for Transport also said the NHS would get 1,200+ new charging sockets.

In a final prong under the new funding, the Government is also modernising EV charging signage on major roads. Immediate changes will allow EV charging hubs – which have more than doubled since the beginning of 2023 and now stand at over 82,000 charging points – to be signposted from motorways and major A-roads for the first time.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”

The funding has been greeted across the fleet and charging sector.

Logistics UK’s deputy policy director Michelle Gardner welcomed the announcement of the Depot Charging Scheme, which will support operators looking to install the infrastructure needed to charge electric vehicles swiftly and effectively.

But, echoing recent SMMT findings that truck and van operators can wait up to 15 years for depot charging connections, she warned that challenges still exist for the logistics sector on the road to decarbonisation.

“The public charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles is still woefully underpowered and requires an effective plan to ensure it is scaled rapidly. To address wider challenges with depot charging, our sector must be prioritised for grid connections with high and opaque costs being addressed. We will be maintaining close contact with government over the coming weeks to ensure that these issues are addressed at pace.”

Kerbo Charge co-founder Michael Goulden said the company was delighted by the news of the government grant for cross-pavement charging solutions.

“The ability to charge safely, cheaply and conveniently at home will make a huge difference to these motorists and should significantly boost the rate of EV adoption.

“Kerbo Charge has a waiting list of 12,000 drivers all desperate to have one of our channels installed outside their home, but are currently unable to do so either because of affordability or because their local authority has not yet authorised it.

“This funding announcement addresses both of these issues head-on, demonstrating the Government’s backing for cross-pavement charging and subsidising the cost for tens of thousands of UK households.”

Edmund King, AA president, welcomed the action to make EV charging signage more visible.

“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.”

And Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt, said the move would improve consumer confidence and bolster EV adoption.

“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.”

Ian Johnston, chief executive at Osprey, said that 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.”

Quentin Willson, founder of the FairCharge campaign group, said: “Having long campaigned for charging signs on our roads, I’m overjoyed to see that finally non-EV drivers will see that there is a charging infrastructure to give them the confidence to switch. Years of not having any charging signage on our roads has helped stoke the myth ‘there’s no infrastructure’. This is a very welcome development.”

And John Lewis, CEO of Char.gy, said: “A change in the signage rules and regulations for CPOs is very welcomed by not only Charg.gy, but also the entire industry. The clearer the signs, the better the consumer confidence.”

The on-street charging network also greeted the Government’s announcement of £25m funding for cross-pavement charging solutions.

“With over 4,000 Char.gy charge points already live and 6,000 more on the way in Brighton & Hove, the largest rollout of its kind in the UK, the message is clear: drivers, industry and government are all backing the shift. One in four people are now going electric. As CPOs, it’s our responsibility to ensure the infrastructure keeps pace.”