From 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK. The use of electric vehicles (EV) is becoming more and more common as the country moves towards net zero. The Council is keen to play their part in accelerating the switch and supporting a smooth transition from carbon intensive to ultra-low and zero emission vehicles by making EV charging accessible to more people.
Besides installing charging facilities at car parks in the Town Centre, the Council is intending to provide charging opportunities across town for local residents who might not have a driveway where they could charge an EV and for visitors coming to visit friends and family in Stevenage. Charging facilities at neighbourhood shops will also help to draw in customers to support those businesses.
Completion of these projects will depend on both successfully bidding for the UK Government's grants and gaining joint funding from installation partners.
The Council also encourages the provision of private workplace charging through the planning system for new commercial applications and by advising employers on the availability of government grants.
The Council carried out initial feasibility studies to identify viable locations for EV charging points, assessing site layout, ownership, and grid capacity. This work identified up to 50 potential sites across parkland, leisure sites, and garage compounds. These sites were proposed to Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), which is administering the funding and procuring charge point operators (CPOs).
Following a tender process in July 2025, the contract was awarded by HCC in December 2025, with Urban Fox appointed as the CPO for Stevenage (as part of Lot 3 covering Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, and Stevenage).
The project has progressed into site assessments and upcoming resident engagement, with the physical rollout scheduled to begin in late autumn 2026.
Provision of EV charge points at Bedwell Shops, The Hyde, Oaks Cross, Archer Road, Filey Close and St Nicholas Park.
Doubling of existing numbers at the above sites, replacement of legacy equipment and new developer led installation at Marshgate.
In May 2023, 30 EV charging points (single socket) were opened at the new Railway North MSCP.
After an extensive feasibility assessment and public consultation in 2022 a bid for funding was made to the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) of the Department for Transport (DfT) to install EV chargers in eight sites including neighbourhood centres across the town. This bid was successful. Find out more Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.