This guide offers a clear, practical roadmap for local authorities looking to deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in public, staff, and fleet settings. It covers the full project lifecycle, from planning and grid connection to installation and operation, making it highly relevant for policy, transport, planning, energy, and asset-management teams.

Who it’s for?

Aimed directly at local authority officers, the guide combines technical clarity with actionable insight. Whether you’re new to EV infrastructure or refining existing plans, this acts as a trusted checklist.

Published September 2022

What’s in it?

Planning and grid coordination

National Grid emphasises early engagement with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), helping councils understand network capacity constraints, loading, reinforcement needs, and connection options. This is essential in areas with off-street parking to avoid delays or unexpected costs.

Technical considerations

The guide breaks down charger categories—slow, fast, rapid, ultra-rapid—with typical power outputs, charging times, and suitable locations. It also explains critical grid topics like load management, harmonic emissions, earthing systems, phase balancing, and spatial requirements for equipment.

Cost and timing benchmarks

It provides realistic timelines and connection costs for different charger types (e.g. fast chargers: £1k–£3k over 8–12 weeks; rapid: £3.5k–£10k; multiple rapid hubs: £70k–£120k plus 4+ months). These benchmarks help shape budget submissions and project commissioning.

Operational insights

Practical guidance on sites like depots, car parks, and on-street roles enables officers to choose appropriate technology (e.g. smart charging, on-site storage, coordinated billing structures).

How local authorities can use this guide

• Strategy and feasibility stage: follow the DNO engagement checklist to assess network capacity and likely reinforcement costs.
• Delivery planning: use charger specification tables to match charger speeds with local usage models.
• Budgeting: reference cost and timeline estimates when planning capital bids or grant applications.
• Stakeholder coordination: align highways, planning, procurement, colleagues in fleet/transport using consistent technical terms and project flow.

Overall: This is a high‑value, council‑focused resource that blends engineering insight with implementation tools. It supports the full process from site selection through to operation—ideal as both an internal guide and an external briefing document with partners.

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