- Relaxation of electric vehicle rules and increase in subsidies coming in April
- It will be easier for homeowners to install gutters recessed into the pavement.
- Councils will also receive funding over the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure.
Rule changes coming into effect on April 1 this year could help reshape the way UK drivers access EV charging, especially those without access to vehicles.
Following an announcement in February 2026, the UK government says it has increased grant amounts for charging points by more than 40%, while increasing support for councils to make it easier for those without private access to access an electric vehicle charging solution.
For example, the government is said to be easing restrictions on “curbside” charging (which I have previously argued is a good but limited idea) by simplifying the running of a compatible cable from a domestic residence to a car parked on the street.
Article continues below.
“Drivers without off-street parking have long faced ‘gateway discrimination’ when it comes to charging electric vehicles,” explains Matt Galvin, CEO of Polestar UK.
Galvin went on to explain that Polestar welcomes this policy to facilitate the installation of home charging solutions that will “help more people switch from petrol and diesel cars, reducing running costs and reducing air pollution and traffic noise in our towns and cities”, he added.
Analysis: a positive step for electric vehicle owners
The UK Government’s recent announcement could be a real turning point for electric vehicle owners, as one of the biggest obstacles to widespread adoption of this technology is the frankly unacceptable cost of the public charging network.
As EV battery packs grow, it now costs more to fill the effective “tank,” and if EV owners cannot install a charger at home, this is quickly becoming unaffordable.
After recently driving the Kia EV9 for a week, I was faced with a bill of over £150 in public charging fees. Traveling the same distance in my old diesel van would have cost me half as much.
Unfortunately, those living without off-street parking, renters, and even small business owners often face a lot of red tape when it comes to EV charging options, such as energy-efficient units installed in existing street furniture or cross-sidewalk charging solutions.
These see a small gully made in the pavement or sidewalk, allowing electric vehicle owners to safely drag a charging cable from a flat or townhouse without causing a dangerous trip hazard.
It allows charging from a domestic socket, without the need to install a 7kW charger.
“We are taking steps to make electric vehicle ownership an affordable option for everyone, not just those with access to vehicles,” said aviation, shipping and decarbonisation minister Keir Mather.
“The larger grants mean that families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p per mile,” he added.
In addition, councils will receive funding over the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, also urges landlords to make the best use of the grants, stating that almost 9 in 10 landlords with a suitable property would install electric vehicle charging points if a tenant asked them to carry out this work.
This recent announcement, along with the current £2bn EV Grant, which offers savings on certain EVs, is designed to make the idea of owning an EV more attractive.
As fuel prices continue to rise due to the conflict in the Middle East, Octopus Energy has reported that sales of electric vehicle chargers have increased 20% month on month, as drivers look to “escape unpredictable costs at the pump.”
The demand for electric vehicles is there, it just needs to be as simple as possible so that potential owners can charge them at home for less money. Otherwise, making the change simply doesn’t make sense.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and tiktok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
