Working to achieve net zero carbon emissions
from transport in our region
Transport East has undertaken extensive research to understand the region’s challenges for the projected electric vehicle (EV) uptake.
Private vehicle ownership is essential for maintaining connections to essential services, especially in a region with a sparse geography. With one-third of people living in rural areas, private transport remains the most popular mode of travel in the East due to limited public transport options. This heavy reliance on private vehicles presents several challenges, including:
- High Carbon Emissions: Transport accounts for 42% of carbon emissions in the East, significantly higher than the national average of 26%, with car ownership as a major contributor.
- Limited Public Transport Connectivity: Rural and smaller communities often lack adequate public transport options, making private vehicles the primary mode of transportation.
Our Strategic Priorities
To address these challenges, our key priorities include:
- Decarbonising Transport: Reducing emissions by supporting the shift to electric vehicles.
- Energising Rural Communities: Enhancing access to EV charging infrastructure to serve rural and urban areas.
- Keeping Towns and Cities Connected: Ensuring effective transportation networks across the region.
Supporting the Transition to Electric Vehicles
We are committed to providing a centralised source of data, support, and recommendations to transport officers in the East. Our goal is to accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI) and meet the growing demand for charging points as more individuals and businesses transition to EVs.
Our research highlights the scale and types of public EVCI needed to meet projected demands. Additionally, we are supporting LTAs in developing and implementing their EV strategies by monitoring progress and offering tailored recommendations for improvement where necessary.
By working together, we can facilitate a smoother transition to electric vehicles, reduce emissions, and create a more sustainable and connected region.
Current number of public charging points in the East*:
July 2025
2,881
(4% increase from January 2025)
April 2025
2,675
(5% increase from January 2025)
*Data from the Department for Transport. Find out more here.
How is Transport East making a difference?
Regional Electric Vehicle Strategy Evaluations, Action Plans and Learnings (REVEAL)
Our most recent report outlines the latest levels of electric vehicle (EV) ownership and electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI) available across Local Transport Authorities (LTAs). Public charging infrastructure is currently keeping up with the projected demand from the EV:Ready work.
The report’s recommendations have been shared with Local Transport Authorities to support the assessment and further development of their EV strategies.
EV infrastructure forecast with EV:Ready and insights through the ELectric Vehicle Insight Study (ELVIS)
Our first major piece of work provided Local Authorities with baseline data of the number of EVs owned and publicly available EVCI across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Southend and Thurrock, along with projections and recommendations to efficiently deliver charging infrastructure.
EV:Ready offers a dashboard tool, developed by WSP, which provides transport officers with an evidence base and mapping tool to help understand, plan and prioritise where EVCI should be delivered across the region.
ELVIS supported EV:Ready by supplying local authorities, energy providers and private sector charge-point operators with recommendations to work more effectively to deliver EVCI in the right place and support the EV:Ready projections for low and high EV uptake.
STB Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Framework
Transport for the North’s EVCI Framework provides a consistent and public source of EV charging intelligence across our regions.
The extension of this planning capability is powered by the STB Common Analytical Framework (CAF) - a collaboration between the seven STBs. By rolling out via our network, this enabling capacity is now freely available to all constituent local authority partners across England, which can be applied towards Local Transport Plans, EV strategies and delivery activities. Key outputs are also available publicly, facilitating important investment activities with the private sector and other stakeholders.
The roll-out includes provision of TfN’s enabling analytical suite including vehicle fleet decarbonisation, land-use, social demographics and highway network movements (with thanks to National Highways for their support).
What is the STB EVCI Framework?
A key challenge for national Government, local authorities and the private sector is planning and delivering critical EV charging infrastructure with confidence. STBs, with our regional transport plans and analytics, are well placed to account for the regional and cross-boundary nature of private car and freight movements when considering EV charging needs. By using the latest qualitative and quantitative evidence which considers the full range of influencing factors for EV charging, we can encourage the right investment which delivers comprehensive and inclusive EV charging solutions across our regions.
The EVCI Framework supports value-for-money, consistent and integrated public sector activities and decisions towards the deployment of local EV charging infrastructure. The evidence is, as far as possible, published openly in the public domain to underpin any public sector funding, as well as to inform and enhance any delivery through partnership with the private sector.
This delivers an enhanced evidence base that considers the users’ needs and movements across our region’s road networks, and a route map for what that means for EV uptake and charging in granular place-based outputs. The tool also takes a whole systems approach in identifying the significant requirements placed on the electricity grid and energy networks arising from the electrification of road vehicles.
The STBs will continue to enhance the EVCI Framework, working in conjunction with National Government, Local Authorities and other stakeholders to identify new enabling capabilities and initiatives. The STBs will also continue to identify new avenues our evidence can improve delivery, to support our visions for our regions. This will be mediated by an all-STB forum and facilitated by the STB Common Analytical Framework.