UK public EV charging rollout
Plymouth Advances On-Street EV Charging with LEVI Fund Contracts
The LEVI Fund enables Plymouth to install new on-street EV charge points, targeting residents lacking private parking and supporting the city’s transition to electric transport.
What happened
Plymouth City Council has taken a significant step towards expanding its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by awarding contracts to Connected Kerb and Believ. These companies will deliver on-street EV charging solutions as part of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund initiative. The programme aims to install EV charge points throughout Plymouth, with a particular focus on maximising coverage and accessibility for residents who do not have access to off-street parking.
The LEVI Fund, a government-backed scheme, supports local authorities in deploying publicly accessible EV charge points, especially in urban areas where off-street parking is limited. By partnering with Connected Kerb and Believ, Plymouth is leveraging specialist providers to ensure the rollout meets the needs of its diverse communities and urban layout.
Why this matters for UK EV infrastructure
The expansion of on-street EV charging infrastructure in Plymouth under the LEVI Fund is a clear example of how local authorities are addressing one of the key barriers to EV adoption: lack of convenient charging options for residents without private parking spaces. This demographic often faces challenges in accessing reliable and safe EV charging, which can deter EV ownership.
By focusing on on-street solutions, Plymouth is aligning with broader UK government objectives to ensure equitable access to EV infrastructure across all residential types. This approach supports the transition to zero-emission vehicles by reducing reliance on private off-street charging and increasing the availability of public charge points in urban environments.
The involvement of specialist providers like Connected Kerb and Believ also highlights the growing commercial opportunities in the EV infrastructure sector. Their expertise in deploying and managing on-street charging networks can accelerate infrastructure delivery while ensuring operational efficiency and user convenience.
Who this affects
This initiative primarily benefits Plymouth residents who live in areas without off-street parking, such as those in terraced housing or flats with limited parking facilities. For these residents, the availability of on-street EV charge points is critical to enabling EV ownership and use.
Local businesses and fleet operators in Plymouth may also see indirect benefits. Improved public charging infrastructure can support the electrification of commercial vehicles and delivery fleets, which often operate in urban areas with limited private parking.
For companies involved in EV infrastructure deployment, the contracts awarded by Plymouth City Council represent a commercial opportunity and a signal of growing municipal investment in EV charging networks. This could encourage other local authorities to pursue similar partnerships and funding routes.
Signals to watch
The Plymouth LEVI Fund contracts signal several important trends and potential developments in the UK EV infrastructure market:
- **Increased Local Authority Engagement:** More councils may follow Plymouth’s lead in utilising LEVI Fund resources to expand on-street charging, especially targeting residents without off-street parking.
- **Growth of Specialist Providers:** The selection of Connected Kerb and Believ underscores the role of niche companies specialising in on-street charging solutions, suggesting a maturing market segment.
- **Focus on Accessibility and Coverage:** Future infrastructure deployments are likely to prioritise equitable access, ensuring that EV charging is not limited to areas with private parking.
- **Integration with Urban Planning:** As councils deploy more on-street chargers, integration with wider urban planning and transport strategies will become increasingly important.
Monitoring announcements from other local authorities and updates on LEVI Fund allocations will provide further insight into the pace and scale of public EV charging rollout across the UK.
EV Signals perspective
From an EV Signals viewpoint, Plymouth’s LEVI Fund contracts exemplify the practical application of government funding to address critical infrastructure gaps in urban EV charging. This case highlights the importance of targeting infrastructure deployment to meet the needs of residents without off-street parking, a key challenge in UK cities.
For companies operating in the commercial EV infrastructure space, this development reinforces the value of cultivating relationships with local authorities and positioning as specialists in on-street charging solutions. The involvement of Connected Kerb and Believ demonstrates how expertise in this niche can unlock municipal contracts and contribute to scalable infrastructure growth.
Stakeholders should closely watch how Plymouth manages the rollout, including site selection, installation timelines, and user experience, as these factors will influence future procurement and deployment strategies elsewhere.
EV Signals subscribers can leverage our [Planning Application Lead Feed](https://evsignals.co.uk/planning-application-lead-feed) and [Commercial EV Charging](https://evsignals.co.uk/commercial-ev-charging) insights to identify similar opportunities and track evolving local authority priorities.
Sources
- [Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund - Plymouth City Council](https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/local-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-levi-fund)
Sources