Middlemen markups called out
A UK installer flagged that public EV charger projects can carry 30–35% markups from middlemen, arguing for direct tenders to small contractors to cut waste — a social post framing that procurement layers are inflating project costs. The claim reinforces pressure on installers to advertise direct‑hire credentials and competitive bids. (x.com)
The Crown Commercial Service’s Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions (RM6213) dynamic purchasing system — a common route for public EV charger procurement — was formally extended on 2 February 2026. (crowncommercial.gov.uk) Public-sector EV contracts in the UK span from small £10–£50k awards to multi‑hundred‑million programmes; recent listings include a Kent LEVI award reported around £290 million and a Milton Keynes residential concession tender valued at about £75 million. (bidstats.uk) Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee recorded roughly 73,000 public charge points in the UK at the start of 2025 and flagged regional imbalances plus deployment hurdles such as planning delays and grid‑connection times. (publications.parliament.uk) Industry procurement guidance from Cenex and the Transport & Energy Forum (TTF) details multiple commercial models — concession, lease, landlord and own‑operate — and notes that “fully managed” contracts commonly bundle supply, installation, DLM and back‑office services into single awards. (cenex.co.uk) Recent tender notices show public bodies frequently ask for end‑to‑end services (supply, design, install, operate, maintain), a structure that concentrates work through lead suppliers and frameworks while also leaving discrete lots and market‑engagement windows for smaller firms. (find-tender.service.gov.uk) Approved installer listings and grant schemes remain active: CertifiedInstaller indexes more than 2,000 verified OZEV‑approved installers and the UK’s OZEV grants offer up to £350 toward eligible home charger installations. (certifiedinstaller.co.uk)
