Is Somerset ready for electric? Your complete guide to EV charging across the county

The big news: £3.78 million for Somerset's charging network

Somerset Council has secured £3.78 million from the Government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund – one of the most significant investments in the county's transport infrastructure in years. The funding is earmarked specifically for expanding EV charging across Somerset's towns, villages, and rural communities, and will result in a minimum of 1,606 new charging sockets being installed across the county.

These new chargers are primarily lower-powered (up to 7kW) AC units, designed for overnight and long-stay charging in car parks and on residential streets. But the scheme also includes up to 20 rapid chargers (50kW and above), giving drivers the ability to add meaningful range in just 20–30 minutes on longer journeys.

The rollout is being managed under a 17-year concession contract – meaning Somerset will have a stable, long-term charging network maintained by a commercial operator for years to come.

"Without LEVI funding, the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in more rural, lower-demand, and commercially less viable areas of Somerset would be unlikely." – Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport

"Without LEVI funding, the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in more rural, lower-demand, and commercially less viable areas of Somerset would be unlikely."

– Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport

What this means for drivers without a driveway

Here's a statistic that often surprises people: around 27% of Somerset homes – more than one in four – do not have off-street parking. In terraced streets in Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, and Bridgwater, that proportion is even higher.

This has historically been one of the biggest practical barriers to EV ownership. If you can't charge overnight at home, an electric car felt impractical. The LEVI investment changes that equation significantly. New on-street chargers will be installed using existing lamp-column infrastructure where possible – reducing costs and disruption – with residents in high-density areas invited to suggest specific locations via Somerset Council's website.

The scheme also commits to installing at least 25% of the new chargepoints in lower-demand rural areas, meaning villages and market towns across the county – not just the urban centres – will see genuine benefit.

Rural Somerset: no longer left behind

For drivers in the Somerset Levels, Exmoor, the Quantocks, and the smaller market towns, EV charging has historically meant a trip into Taunton or Yeovil. That's changing.

The LEVI scheme has made rural coverage a specific priority, with Councillor Richard Wilkins confirming that the approach is designed to ensure that 'rural communities are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicle infrastructure.' This is a meaningful commitment, and one that reflects the reality that Somerset is a predominantly rural county where many people rely on their car for every journey.

Longer charging times (overnight at 7kW) are ideal for rural drivers who return home in the evening, plug in, and wake up with a full battery – no different in practice from plugging in a phone.

The current picture: more chargers than you might think

Somerset already has approaching 300 publicly accessible EV charging points – a figure that has grown by around 30% since 2022. From Minehead to Chard, Yeovil to Glastonbury, there is already a meaningful network in place. The LEVI investment adds at least 1,606 more sockets on top of that existing base, representing a transformational expansion of what's already there.

Key locations where new charge points have been confirmed or are being planned include Oxford Street car park in Burnham-on-Sea, with more sites across the county to be announced following public consultation.

Key facts at a glance

• £3.78 million LEVI Fund secured by Somerset Council
• 1,606+ new charging sockets being installed across the county
• Up to 20 new rapid chargers (50kW+) also included
• 27% of Somerset homes lack off-street parking – the LEVI scheme addresses this directly
• At least 25% of chargers to be installed in rural areas
• 17-year contract ensures long-term network stability
• ~300 public chargepoints already in place across Somerset