£100M Funding Model Boosts UK Destination EV Charging Growth

A £100M finance-led rollout removes upfront costs for hosts, reflecting the growing role of funding models alongside hardware in scaling UK EV charging

15 Dec 2025

A £100m financing-backed partnership between charging platform Go Zero and equipment maker Rolec is reshaping how electric vehicle charging is rolled out across UK destinations, shifting the focus from hardware alone to funding models that reduce barriers for site hosts.

The partnership uses a central financing facility to support large-scale deployment of EV chargers at hotels, leisure venues and other high-traffic locations. Under the model, hosts can install charging points without upfront capital investment, a hurdle that has slowed growth in destination charging in recent years.

Most EV charging in the UK still takes place at home or at work. But as vehicle ownership rises, drivers are increasingly expecting reliable charging at places where they stay, shop or spend time. Many potential hosts have been hesitant to invest, uncertain whether charger use would be high enough to justify installation costs.

By shifting financial risk away from individual sites and spreading costs over time, the Go Zero–Rolec model aims to make participation more attractive and speed up deployment. Go Zero provides the operating platform and financing structure, while Rolec supplies the charging equipment and installation services.

The companies say the approach allows chargers to be rolled out in a standardised and repeatable way, rather than through small pilot projects. This, they argue, supports faster network growth as demand increases.

Go Zero and Rolec describe the structure as reframing charging infrastructure from a capital expense into a service. For businesses, this can simplify decision-making and reduce the time required to approve installations.

The partnership reflects a broader shift in the EV charging sector. As the market matures, access to capital and the ability to bundle financing, operations and hardware are becoming more important in determining where and how quickly networks expand.

Operators face ongoing challenges, including uneven charger use, volatile power prices, grid connection delays and tighter rules on uptime and pricing transparency. Even so, investment activity suggests confidence in long-term demand.

The Go Zero–Rolec deal highlights how alternative funding models may help unlock the next phase of destination charging growth. As similar approaches gain traction, EV charging at hotels, leisure venues and retail sites may increasingly move from a competitive extra to a standard feature across the UK.