How UK councils are structuring EV charging concessions

There is no single way to buy public EV charging. UK councils are using several procurement models, and the one they choose shapes who can win and how the money flows. For anyone bidding, reading the model correctly is half the battle.

Concessions: the dominant LEVI model

Most large on-street programmes run as long concessions, often 10 to 15 years. The operator funds, builds and runs the network and earns its return from charging revenue, sharing a portion back to the authority. The council commits land and access rather than cash. These are the biggest prizes, and they reward bidders who can deliver end to end.

Live examples span the approaches: the Charge Hub EV chargers concession, a long-term partner concession, and Central Bedfordshire's LEVI Tender 1 show how authorities are structuring these deals.

Frameworks and call-offs

Smaller or faster procurements often run through established frameworks. A framework appointment does not guarantee work, but it puts you in the room for call-offs. For installers and electrical contractors, the right framework position is frequently the difference between seeing the work and missing it.

Direct supply and services

Some authorities still buy in the conventional way: a defined supply or services contract for a set scope, such as maintenance of an existing estate or a feasibility study. These are smaller, but they are well-defined and competitive, and a sensible entry point for newer bidders.

Why it matters

The same council can use all three models for different needs, and the award data tells you which they reach for and when. That history is the most reliable guide to how the next procurement will run, which is exactly what the organisation and award pages on EVTenders are for.

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