Strategic Charging Infrastructure Scheme

National Highways is working in collaboration with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), a joint unit between the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to strengthen electricity network capacity to selected motorway service areas (MSA) in England through the Strategic Charging Infrastructure (SCI) Scheme. The transition to zero-emission vehicles is expected to drive significant growth in demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging at MSAs. This will require a visible and functional charging network across the motorway network to support current and future EV drivers and provide confidence when undertaking long-distance journeys. However, at several locations, the deployment of charging infrastructure is constrained by the existing electricity network capacity. In some cases, the cost of grid upgrades to meet future demand is not commercially viable for industry and represents a key barrier to the provision of additional EV charging infrastructure. The SCI Scheme will support the development of a strong open-access (can be used with any EV vehicle regardless of manufacturer) EV charging network across the motorway network by strengthening electricity network infrastructure to selected MSAs where investment is not commercially viable. The resulting network capacity will then be available to firms installing EV charging at the site at a subsided and commercially viable price. An indicative allocation of £190 million has been made for the scheme. Enabling civils works, such as land preparation and substation housing, to ensure all funded sites meet a minimum standard at adoption and connection stage, may also be within scope of the packages where required. Further details are provided within a separate scope document that can be accessed via this link: https://highways.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/NationalHighwaysProcurement-MaterialforExternalRelease/IgDtJCSl2pP2R7XoJFkawLs4AWlSqYeOoUX2WNXcMEkbYWM?e=iZisZL Following completion of P