The UK’s push to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 hinges on electric vehicles, which now account for 28% of the country’s road transport emissions. With decades of research proving that the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will reduce those emissions, helping and encouraging drivers to switch to EVs is a key part of the nation’s journey to a more sustainable future.
While government incentives—like the £3,750 EV grant and the phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars—are accelerating adoption, the real bottleneck isn’t just affordability. It’s charging infrastructure: reliable, widely available networks that can keep up with demand as more drivers switch. The challenge extends beyond urban centers, as rural areas also require strategic placement to address range anxiety and ensure equitable access across the country.
Landowners and property managers are the unsung backbone of this transition. Forecourts, retail parks, and even brownfield sites are being repurposed into charging hubs, ensuring drivers have convenient access. The government’s target of 300,000 public charge points by 2030 means over 215,000 must be installed in the next five years—a task that demands coordination between landowners, local authorities, and charge point operators (CPOs). Without proactive engagement from property owners, gaps in coverage could emerge, particularly in areas with lower population densities where demand projections are harder to predict. That’s where CPOs come in, but not all are built to last.
Financial stability isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the difference between a charging network that works and one that collapses under pressure. A CPO with strong reserves can weather slow adoption periods, absorb regulatory shifts, and invest in better tech without cutting corners. Weak operators risk leaving landlords with half-built infrastructure or unreliable service, undermining the whole decarbonization effort. For example, a CPO with deep financial backing can afford to deploy advanced smart charging systems that optimize energy use and reduce grid strain, whereas financially fragile operators may struggle to maintain even basic functionality during peak demand periods.
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Selecting the right partner isn’t just about upfront costs. Landowners should scrutinize a CPO’s balance sheet, its ability to scale, and its track record with maintenance. Do they have deep pockets for unexpected downturns? Can they adapt to new rules or tech? User reviews and third-party partnerships matter too, no one wants a charging network that’s fast to install but falls apart under real-world use. Additionally, landowners should assess whether the CPO offers transparent remuneration models, such as revenue-sharing agreements or fixed-term contracts, to ensure long-term viability. A CPO’s history of handling market fluctuations, such as sudden spikes in electricity costs or policy changes, can reveal how resilient it will be in sustaining operations during periods of low utilization.
Why landlords can’t ignore EV charging
This isn’t just about ticking boxes for net zero. It’s about future-proofing properties. Tenants and shoppers increasingly expect charging access, and landlords who ignore it risk losing occupancy. The right CPO partnership doesn’t just meet today’s demand, it ensures the infrastructure can evolve alongside driver habits, energy tech, and policy changes. For instance, as fast-charging networks expand, landlords may need to upgrade existing infrastructure to accommodate higher-power chargers, and a financially stable CPO can facilitate these transitions without disrupting service.
Richard Turnball, head of public affairs and commercial partnerships at Believ, emphasizes that the property sector plays a key role in scaling EV infrastructure.
Balancing urban demand and rural flexibility
The challenge isn’t just building charge points, it’s ensuring they stay operational as driver behavior shifts. Early adopters charged at home or work, but as range anxiety fades, more will rely on public networks. That means CPOs must balance high-capacity hubs in cities with faster, more flexible options for rural areas. The financial strain of overbuilding early could sink weaker operators, leaving gaps where they’re needed most. For example, in less densely populated regions, CPOs may need to deploy modular charging solutions that can scale incrementally as demand grows, rather than committing to fixed infrastructure that could become underutilized. Meanwhile, in urban environments, the focus should be on high-throughput networks that minimize congestion during peak hours.
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Here’s the catch: landowners can’t afford to wait for perfect conditions. The UK’s 2030 deadline is less than eight years away, and delays in planning or funding could create a scramble to catch up. The smart move is to partner with CPOs that treat charging as a long-term asset, not a short-term play. That means asking hard questions upfront, about funding stability, tech upgrades, and how they’ll handle demand spikes without hiking prices. Landowners should also probe whether the CPO has experience managing multi-site deployments, as coordinating installations across diverse properties, from standalone forecourts to large retail parks, requires logistical expertise that smaller operators may lack.
Renewable energy and smart charging partnerships
Some CPOs are betting big on renewable energy integration, offering landlords incentives like revenue sharing or lower operational costs.
Government grants help, but they won’t cover everything. Landowners who treat charging as a standalone project, rather than an afterthought, will have the edge. That means negotiating contracts with clear exit clauses, performance guarantees, and penalties for missed maintenance. The worst-case scenario isn’t just empty charge points; it’s infrastructure that becomes a liability. For example, contracts should specify response times for repairs, compensation for downtime, and mechanisms for resolving disputes, ensuring landowners aren’t left bearing the financial burden of malfunctioning equipment. Some CPOs also offer insurance-backed warranties, which can provide additional protection against unexpected failures.
