Local authorities rolling out public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure can now access enhanced planning information through an updated version of ChargePoint Navigator, a free digital platform designed to support public chargepoint deployment.
The latest update introduces enhanced Connections Insights, providing information on likely connection costs, eligibility, timelines, and connection viability for individual chargepoint locations.
The aim is to help councils assess sites more efficiently and better understand network requirements before submitting connection applications.
ChargePoint Navigator combines site selection, planning information, rollout monitoring, and connection guidance within a single platform.
New dashboards and visualisation tools are intended to reduce the time spent gathering information and managing multiple datasets whilst supporting collaboration between local authority teams.
Helping councils assess charging infrastructure
The platform was launched in 2024 to support applications to the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. According to distribution network operator UK Power Networks, councils using the tool improved their first-time application success rate from 37% to 100% within a year.
The platform is available free of charge to all 133 local authorities within the UK Power Networks licence area. It is now used by 108 authorities, compared with 82 in May 2025.
ChargePoint Navigator has also been adopted beyond the UK Power Networks licence area, with SP Energy Networks, Transport for Wales, and Northern Ireland Electricity Networks using the platform to support local authorities across Scotland, the North West of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Lynne McDonald, Head of Local Net Zero at UK Power Networks DSO, says, “Every improvement in ChargePoint Navigator is shaped directly by the day-to-day challenges our users face and what they have told us matters.
“We’ve listened closely to councils and these new enhancements ensure they can make confident, data-driven decisions for their public EV chargepoint rollout from the very start.”
Tim Middleton, Network Innovations Manager at Kent County Council, working with ChargePoint Operator Urban Fox, adds, “The upgrades made to ChargePoint Navigator this year have made our site selection significantly quicker and easier.
“Having the local authority and CPO working from the same tool and dataset helps keep the rollout on track.
“The new connections functionality alone saves us a huge amount of time; with costs, eligibility, and guidance all in one place, we can quickly identify which sites are feasible and [can] work far more efficiently with our partners.”
For more from UK Power Networks, click here.
