Wokingham Borough Council in England has agreed to look for a long-term partner to install, run and develop its public EV charging network. The council’s Executive decided on 29 October 2026 to invite bids, with a view to appointing a partner by spring 2027. The council hopes to reach more than 400 chargepoints by 2030.
What the Council Agreed
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Decision | Executive meeting, 29 October 2026: invite bids for a charging partner |
| Appointment | Planned by spring 2027 |
| Target | More than 400 chargepoints by 2030 (no overall number confirmed yet) |
| Current network | About 90 chargepoints under council control, about half council-owned |
| EV forecast | About 40,000 EVs registered in the borough by 2030, over 30% of cars |
Scope and Financial Model
All technical options will be considered, including residential and destination charging, rapid and ultra-rapid charging, charging hubs and cross-kerb charging. The council says one partnership should give a consistent approach and avoid the problems of fragmented ownership. The partner is expected to offer the widest possible access, meet high energy-efficiency and carbon-reduction standards, and take on and develop the council’s existing assets.
The council would receive a share of any surplus, which it plans to put toward services, and it is offering grant funding to help make the partnership happen. It says this will improve access for residents without a driveway or off-street parking.
What It Means
Local authorities across the UK are moving from owning individual chargepoints to partnership models. Such tenders typically reward reliable, networked hardware with open protocols, remote management and clear uptime reporting. Mixed networks need slower residential-street AC points as well as faster destination sites. Our EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station (two Type 2 connectors, OCPP 1.6J, RFID) and EV-ACT3204E 22 kW wallbox (RFID and app, CE) suit car parks and kerbside use, and the EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger (about 20–30 kW, OCPP 1.6J) fits smaller fast-charging sites. Read about our commercial charging solutions or the distributor program.
Related Reading
- EV Charging News: UK Removes Planning Permission for Cross-Pavement Chargers, Cutting Up to £300
- EV Charging News: England Proposes an “Ability to Charge” for Tenants and Leaseholders
- EV Charging News: UK Public Chargers Reach 121,171 in Latest Government Statistics
Key Takeaways
- Wokingham will invite bids for a long-term EV charging partner, with an appointment planned by spring 2027.
- The council targets more than 400 chargepoints by 2030 and controls about 90 today.
- All options are open, including cross-kerb charging and ultra-rapid hubs.
- The council will share in any surplus and offers grant funding.
