With the ever increasing uptake of electric vehicles as well and the "gap" in EV charging infrastructure and the current LEVI funding available, is 2024 the year where we make huge strides forwards in addressing the needs of those without access to a driveway?

With Dft expected to assess the local authorities LEVI proposals this month, it's sure to be a busy year for the release on-street charging tenders with over £300m allocated to support the growth of on-street EV charging.

While it is essential that local authority plans are robust, it's also crucial that they're able to utilize the existing funding to leverage private sector investment and ensure the ability to transition to 100% electric without the need for any additional government funding.

There are a Number of Key Considerations for 2024:

Locations selected for the charge points (ensuring a strong socio-economic spread), while using the LEVI funding to support areas less commercially viable.

- The pressure on the local DNO to ensure grid connections and upgrades fall within the desired timelines of the projects.

- Huge numbers of tenders expected to be released at a similar time and how this impacts the charge point operator's ability to provide a quality response or to respond at all.

- Long term partnerships formed at this crucial time, ensuring the CPO has the experience and financial backing to deploy charge points long after the LEVI funding has been spent.

We really enter a vital time in the roll out of EV charge points and I've got my fingers crossed that we get this right. It's incredibly crucial not only to the EV transition but also the environment and planet as a whole!