London, Manchester? Think again. It's Brighton's time to shine: where the seagulls soar high and fish 'n' chips live in intrepid fear.
In a landmark contract, Brighton & Hove is poised to become the best-connected place in the UK for on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging. The city is leading the charge (literally) with a major investment that marks a turning point in the UK’s EV rollout.
Brighton & Hove is one of the first local authorities to tap into the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. With over 6,000 lamppost chargers set to be installed across the city, Brighton will officially take the crown as the most connected city for on-street charging... A bold step forward in the EV revolution.
The £380 million LEVI scheme aims to supercharge the UK’s public charging network, and Brighton’s order represents the largest single commitment to on-street EV infrastructure in the country to date.
Once complete, Brighton will have more than twice the number of lamppost chargers than the current front-runners (the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster), making the south coast city a true national leader in clean, connected transport.
Leadership and Vision for a Greener Future
Our CEO, John Lewis, hailed the announcement as “a huge moment for the UK and its EV ambitions.”
“This partnership alone will empower thousands of residents to confidently make the switch to electric vehicles, knowing they have easy access to chargers,” he said. “As local authorities across the UK prepare to follow suit, this stands as a powerful first example of how the public and private sectors are coming together to deliver impactful projects that stimulate demand for EVs and bring the UK meaningfully closer to achieving our sustainability goals.”
Backing this bold move, Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport, emphasised the importance of accessible charging:
“Making EV charging as easy as possible is crucial to making the switch to electric a success. Rolling out over 6,000 chargers across Brighton and Hove will make driving an electric vehicle easier and more convenient—especially for those without a driveway. It will power growth, cut emissions and improve lives in Brighton and Hove and beyond, as we continue to create jobs, attract investment and secure our future.”
Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge and a leading EV campaigner, underlined the wider impact:
“Such a huge and very visible deployment of on-street chargers will help create consumer confidence in charging infrastructure. It will also show other local authorities that with ambition and Government LEVI funding, it’s possible to offer chargers to the neglected 30% of EV drivers who can’t charge at home.”
A milestone for Brighton, and the UK
This partnership with Brighton & Hove isn’t just a local success story, it’s a blueprint for what’s possible nationwide. By working together, the public and private sectors have laid the groundwork for real, lasting change: one that puts accessible EV charging at the heart of our communities.
For residents, it means the confidence to go electric without compromise. For the UK, it marks a crucial step forward in the race to net zero, proving that with the right investment and vision, the future of transport can be cleaner, smarter, and fairer for everyone.