This Week in EV Charging: 12 October 2026

Here is our round-up of the EV charging news that matters to UK hotels, leisure venues, workplaces, fleet operators and councils this week.

A record September for electric cars

On 5 October the SMMT reported that 99,201 new battery electric cars were registered in September, a record month and 28.3% of the market. So far in 2026, 26.2% of new cars have been fully electric, against the 33% the zero emission vehicle mandate sets for this year (SMMT).

Why it matters: September's new plates bring a large wave of electric cars to UK roads, many of them company cars that will need charging at work and on business trips.

Electric vans hit a September record, with depot grant window expected soon

The SMMT reported on 5 October that 4,832 battery electric vans were registered in September, a record for the month, taking the year-to-date share to 10.8% (SMMT). Separately, the government expects the second window of its Depot Charging Scheme, with £38 million available, to open on 28 October; rates for this window have not yet been confirmed (gov.uk).

Why it matters: if you run vans from a depot, now is the time to get a site survey done so you are ready to apply. Our guide to fleet EV charging questions to answer first is a good starting point, and our fleet charging page explains how Connekt helps.

Zapmap counts 124,738 public chargers

Zapmap's figures, published on 6 October, show 124,738 public charging devices across 48,298 locations at the end of September, up 9% on a year earlier. Destination chargers, the kind found at hotels and venues, reached 64,289 (Zapmap).

Why it matters: with more chargers to choose from, drivers increasingly pick the ones that are reliable, which is why uptime matters more than charger count.

£5.4m to unlock 5,585 chargers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

On 1 October the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority announced £5.4 million from the government's Local EV Infrastructure fund, which is expected to deliver 5,585 charge points over a 15-year contract, most of them privately funded (Cambridge Network).

Why it matters: councils in England are using public funding to unlock much larger private investment. Our public sector charging page explains how that model works.

New planning rules for chargers in England from 21 October

An amendment to England's permitted development rules, laid before Parliament on 30 September, comes into force on 21 October. It widens where wall-mounted and post-mounted chargers can go within the grounds of houses and blocks of flats, and adds a new class for cross-pavement cable channels installed or approved by highway authorities (legislation.gov.uk).

Why it matters: managers of residential blocks and councils in England get more room to install charging without a full planning application. Scotland has its own planning rules.

If any of this week's news has you thinking about charging at your site, book a free consultation and we will talk you through the options.