Electric vehicles: strategic charging infrastructure scheme
Seeks views on proposals for a scheme that addresses high electricity network upgrade costs at motorway service areas in England.
The government is committed to decarbonising road transport. A visible charging network is essential for successful electric vehicle (EV) uptake.
Motorway service areas (MSAs) offer charging on major routes, particularly for long-distance travel. However, limited access to affordable electricity network capacity remains a significant barrier to charger rollout in England.
The strategic charging infrastructure (SCI) scheme will strengthen electricity network infrastructure to selected MSAs where investment is not commercially viable. This will enable the deployment of ultra-rapid chargers.
This consultation seeks industry views on site selection and terms for accessing the resulting network capacity. Feedback and evidence from this consultation will inform the design of the scheme.