Transport for North’s (TfN) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Framework, initially launched in Autumn 2022, is expanding across England through the Sub-national Transport Body network.

The work, supported by Midlands Connect and Transport for the South East, offers local authorities enhanced planning capabilities for EV infrastructure, fostering collaboration and informed investment decisions through accessible, data-driven tools

The launch sees the extension of this planning capability thanks to collaborative working between Transport for the North, Midlands Connect and Transport for the South East regions. By rolling out via the TfN STB network, this enabling capacity is now freely available to all constituent local authority partners in these regions, which can be applied towards Local Transport Plans, EV strategies and delivery activities. Key outputs are also available publicly, facilitating important investment activities with the private sector and other stakeholders. 

Powered by the STB Common Analytical Framework (CAF), this roll out includes provision of TfN’s enabling analytical suite including vehicle fleet decarbonisation, land-use, social demographics and highway network movements (with thanks to National Highways for their support), said TfN.

A second release later this summer will complete the national roll out of the EVCI Framework to all other STBs in England. 

The STB EVCI Framework can be viewed here. 

A key challenge for national government, local authorities and the private sector is planning and delivering critical EV charging infrastructure with confidence. STBs, with its regional transport plans and analytics, TfN is well placed to account for the regional and cross-boundary nature of private car and freight movements when considering EV charging needs. By using the latest qualitative and quantitative evidence which considers the full range of influencing factors for EV charging, TfN can encourage the right investment which delivers comprehensive and inclusive EV charging solutions across its regions. 

The EVCI Framework supports value-for-money, consistent and integrated public sector activities and decisions towards the deployment of local EV charging infrastructure. The evidence is, as far as possible, published openly in the public domain to underpin any public sector funding, as well as to inform and enhance any delivery through partnership with the private sector, said TfN.

This delivers an enhanced evidence base that considers the users’ needs and movements across its region’s road networks, and a route map for what that means for EV uptake and charging in granular place-based outputs. The tool also takes a whole systems approach in identifying the significant requirements placed on the electricity grid and energy networks arising from the electrification of road vehicles, added TfN,

The Framework is an in-house tool, allowing the STBs and their partner authorities to remain agile to any change impacting TfN’s regional and local EV strategy and delivery. 

• New vehicle registration data: Its baseline of EV uptake has been updated to DVLA data from December 2023. Providing the latest possible picture of EV uptake and what this means for future projections of vehicle uptake and charging needs. 
• Future Travel Scenarios. TfN has updated its projections of EV uptake across its Future Travel Scenarios, to reflect latest national policy regarding the banning of combustion vehicles and the ZEV mandate for production of new EVs. The scenarios plot different rates of EV uptake, vehicle demand growth, and user movements on road networks to name a few. These provide TfN’s EVCI work with a range of plausible charging requirements, supporting decision making for what remains an uncertain future. 

The STB EVCI Framework will be extended to Transport East, England’s Economic Heartland, Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway later in summer 2024. Providing a consistent and public source of EV charging intelligence across England. 

STBs are actively supporting the transition to EV and the planning and delivery of EV charging across its regions. TfN’s EVCI Framework provides robust, data-driven and accessible evidence which guides local authority plans, strategies and delivery. It is particularly useful in maximising delivery actions such as use of public spend on schemes such as the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI programme) and the Rapid Charging Fund. Via TfN’s regional forums, it can facilitate collaboration and partnerships; providing advice to Government and other national agencies; drawing in private sector interest; and taking a systems approach to accelerate delivery on pan-regional priorities such as collaborations with the energy sector. 

The STBs will continue to enhance the EVCI Framework, working in conjunction with National Government, Local Authorities and other stakeholders to identify new enabling capabilities and initiatives. The STBs will also continue to identify new avenues its evidence can improve delivery, to support the TfN vision for our regions. This will be mediated by an all-STB forum and facilitated by the STB Common Analytical Framework.  

Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said: “Our EV Charging Infrastructure Framework provides robust, data-driven and evidence in a way that is easily accessible to those wanting to use it to guide their strategies and delivery plans. 

“We are pleased to extend the enabling capabilities of our EVCI Framework to the rest of England through our partnership with the other STBs. By working together collaboratively, we are providing a consistent and publicly operated source of intelligence. 

“Making this freely available to all our constituent combined/local authorities reinforces our role in supporting partners as they deliver place based solutions. With key outputs also available openly for public and business consumption, the framework will help support the important investment activities of the private sector and other stakeholders.” 

Rupert Clubb, Lead Officer at Transport for the South East, said: “This EVCI visualiser tool will help local transport authorities across the south east to better plan for the future roll out of EV charging infrastructure.  

“Having robust forecasts for both EV uptake and potential charging demand, in an easily accessible and user-friendly visual map-based tool, will be fundamental in helping to deliver a comprehensive public charging network across the south east.  

“Transport for the South East are currently working closely with Transport for the North to introduce enhancements to the tool to incorporate the outcomes of work we are  undertaking on the impacts of the future electrification of vehicle fleets on the demand for charging infrastructure.” 

Richard Bradley, Head of Strategy at Midlands Connect, said: “We are focused on accelerating the delivery of electric vehicle public charge points at a scale that meets the needs of all communities across the region.  

“By collaborating we can share knowledge and make data and tools available to help our partners ensure the right charging infrastructure is available, in the right place, at the right time. 

This collaboration helps us look at the big picture and work in step with other regions to help build more consistent coverage and driver experience.”  

PIC-TfN