Local authorities rolling out public EV charging can now plan and deliver schemes faster,  following a major upgrade to a free digital tool.

The ChargePoint Navigator tool from UK Power Networks will now provide clearer, faster and more actionable insights into EV charge point connections, transforming how councils plan, fund and deliver public charging infrastructure.

The introduction of enhanced Connections Insights gives customers in-depth insights on likely connection costs, eligibility and timelines for each individual charge point.

The platform’s new automatic assessment of connection viability is designed to offer a reliable benchmark that reduces the need for manual interpretation and helps set expectations early, supporting smoother pre connections application conversations and greater confidence when navigating DNO processes.

By combining site selection, planning intelligence, rollout monitoring and connections guidance within one platform, ChargePoint Navigator slashes the admin burden on local government officers.

Real-time dashboards, transparent connection information and intuitive visualisation tools help teams cut down on the time previously spent searching for information, reconciling spreadsheets and re-entering data across multiple systems. This more streamlined journey has strengthened collaboration across teams and accelerated progress from planning to delivery.

The tool was originally launched in 2024 to support applications for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, helping councils move from a 37% first time success rate to 100% in the space of a year.

After listening closely to customer feedback, the platform has now evolved, shifting from broad webinars to tailored one-to-one engagement with LEVI lead local authorities and expanding its features to support every stage of deployment.

ChargePoint Navigator is free and available to all 133 local authorities in UK Power Networks’ licence area, with 108 local authorities using it, up from 82 in May 2025. Customer satisfaction has grown from 91% to 94%, driven by more personalised support and a set of new capabilities shaped directly by the needs of councils.

The tool has also been adopted in other geographies. SP Energy Networks, Transport for Wales and now Northern Ireland Electricity Networks have all begun using the tool, expanding its coverage to local authorities in Scotland, the North West and the whole of Wales.

Lynne McDonald, head of local net zero at UK Power Networks DSO, said: “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 charge point rollout from the very start.”

Tim Middleton – network innovations manager at Kent County Council, which is working with charge point operator Urban Fox – said: “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 work far more efficiently with our partners.”