Skip advert
Advertisement

On-street electric car charging gets £55million Govt. funding boost

The UKs National Wealth Fund invests government cash in Connected Kerb

EVs charging on the street

On-street EV charging is getting a boost, thanks to an investment announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of her package of growth measures for the UK economy.

The money is slated to come from a £65 million investment in car charging firm Connected Kerb, £55 million of which comes from the Treasury’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), with another £10m from Aviva. The NWF is financed by taxation and government borrowing, and its purchase of an equity stake in on-street charging firm Connected Kerb is expected to quadruple the firm’s number of on-street chargepoints to 40,000.

Advertisement - Article continues below

“This is a game-changing investment that will give individuals and businesses the confidence to make the switch to driving electric, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and air pollution,” says Connected Kerb chief executive Chris Pateman-Jones. “We are delighted to have such high profile investors who are deeply aligned with our sustainability and ethical goals.”

The Connected Kerb investment has been welcomed by industry, with Renault UK’s managing director Adam Wood saying it’s a critical requirement to give people without a driveway an easy, affordable way to charge an electric car.

“Today’s announcement gives confidence that legislators are ready to back their ambition with investment,” he says. “Providing more access to charging points for customers is critical to speeding up the transition to zero-emissions vehicles."

But there are plenty of signs suggesting that more needs to be done. On the day of the Chancellor’s speech, data revealed from a survey of 1,000 drivers conducted by insurance platform Quotezone, suggested that 90 percent don’t believe the UK is ready for EVs, while four fifths of drivers think the planned 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles is coming too soon.

The survey also suggested that more than half of drivers think the government should be providing more grants and tax incentives to support the EV transition, while 48 per cent reckoned a free electric car charger at home would be the most significant factor when it came to considering a switch to an electric car.

Tell us what you love (and hate) about your car. Take the Driver Power survey now and you could win a £100 Amazon voucher

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

UK's patchy EV charging network put drivers at risk of being stranded
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - charging

UK's patchy EV charging network put drivers at risk of being stranded

A report from the government watchdog suggests that the UK's electric car charging network still isn't up to scratch
News
12 Mar 2025
Government poised to relax ZEV Mandate changes
BYD Atto 3 - front cornering

Government poised to relax ZEV Mandate changes

Minister says ‘substantial changes have been agreed’ following industry lobbying
News
7 Mar 2025
More EV incentives needed, but ‘no role for hydrogen’
Tesla Model 3 - new and old Model 3 side by side

More EV incentives needed, but ‘no role for hydrogen’

Climate Change Committee’s annual carbon budget says falling prices will accelerate the EV transition from 2026
News
26 Feb 2025
UK 2030 petrol and diesel sales ban: what is it and what cars are affected?
fuel pump

UK 2030 petrol and diesel sales ban: what is it and what cars are affected?

Labour intends to pull forward the ban on sales of pure-ICE cars from 2035 to 2030 - here’s everything you need to know
Tips & advice
21 Feb 2025

Most Popular

New Mercedes CLA 2025 preview: electric exec gets near 500-mile range
Mercedes CLA - front

New Mercedes CLA 2025 preview: electric exec gets near 500-mile range

The Mercedes CLA with EQ Technology heralds a new generation of lighter and more efficient EVs, plus there’s hybrids on the way
News
14 Mar 2025
Electric and hybrid cars are killing the manual gearbox - and we won't miss it
Opinion - gearboxes

Electric and hybrid cars are killing the manual gearbox - and we won't miss it

Auto Express’ senior test editor argues that no one should be worried by the rising popularity of automatic ’boxes
Opinion
14 Mar 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Prices tumble for Ford's Explorer – bag one for £233 a month
Ford Explorer - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Prices tumble for Ford's Explorer – bag one for £233 a month

The Ford Explorer is one of the more fun-to-drive family electric SUVs around – and our Deal of the Day for 12 March.
News
12 Mar 2025