Teesdale V2X project

Our key successes

A major success of the Teesdale V2X project has been the depth and breadth of community engagement across five rural sites. More than 400 households, alongside local businesses and community organisations, have taken part through surveys, events, social media and direct discussions with community hub committees.

This engagement has revealed strong local support for EV charging at community hubs, with 52% of respondents strongly supporting and a further 19% supporting the approach. Communities are broadly positive but clear that conditions matter, including costs, fairness, parking impacts, accessibility and ensuring local people benefit rather than visitors alone.

Technical feasibility work has confirmed that all five sites explored in the project have been confirmed as technically capable of hosting both rapid (50kW) and fast (22kW) chargers, despite known grid constraints, demonstrating that well‑planned rural charging is achievable. This overturns assumptions that rural deployment is not viable.

Strong partnerships have been built with Charge My Street CIC, Cybermoor, Durham Community Action and local organisations, creating a delivery model grounded in community priorities rather than commercial or political agendas. Importantly, community hubs have expressed support for progressing to delivery, provided risks are managed and benefits remain local.

Challenges

Delivering EV charging in rural areas brings distinct challenges. Grid capacity and connection costs remain a major issue, creating uncertainty for community sites. This has been addressed through early technical assessments, engagement with Distribution Network Operators and exploring phased or flexible deployment options.

Another challenge is lower EV uptake combined with limited public understanding. Many residents are interested in EVs but unsure how community‑led charging differs from public charge points. Some assumptions link EV infrastructure to political agendas, rather than recognising it as a locally driven response to practical transport needs. The project has highlighted the need for clearer, more accessible public information that explains the community benefit model and builds trust.

Communities have also been clear that charging infrastructure must not place financial risk on volunteer‑run buildings. As a result, the project is developing models where chargers are revenue‑neutral for hubs and where genuine community benefit is clearly defined.

Finally, rural users expressed a strong preference for simpler charging models, avoiding complex apps and inaccessible pay‑per‑use systems that work better in urban areas.

Top tips

Start with community engagement early:
Understanding local needs, travel patterns and perceptions of EVs is essential in rural areas where demand may be less visible. Early engagement helps shape the right scale and approach, while building local support and confidence in the project.

Don’t assume rural sites are unviable:
Even in areas with known grid constraints, detailed feasibility work can identify practical solutions. Early technical assessments and engagement with network operators are critical to avoid unexpected costs and delays, and to explore options such as load management, storage or phased deployment.

Build strong delivery partnerships:
Collaborating with experienced delivery partners, local organisations and the local authority can help navigate technical, financial and governance challenges more effectively. Close alignment with local authority low‑carbon strategies—across transport, energy and regeneration—can unlock funding opportunities, reduce duplication and ensure EV infrastructure complements wider decarbonisation programmes.

Plan for the future, not just current demand:
Considering integration with renewable energy, battery storage and emerging technologies such as vehicle‑to‑grid (V2X) can help future‑proof infrastructure and maximise long‑term impact.

Future plans

The project has moved from feasibility into delivery, supported by GB Energy funding in partnership with the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. The next phase will focus on detailed design and implementation planning for EV charging across the five community hubs.

Work will include confirming grid connections, finalising technical specifications and progressing procurement and installation pathways with the Rural Design Centre, Charge My Street CIC, Cybermoor and local partners. Ensuring alignment with community priorities will remain central.

Alongside physical delivery, the project will further investigate long‑term ownership and operational models through Durham Energy Association Ltd (DEAL), ensuring that income and value generated stay within the community. In parallel, the project is exploring additional grant funding opportunities and potential community share offer options to support delivery and future expansion.

Future phases will continue to explore integration with renewable energy, battery storage and V2X capability, creating a future‑proofed example of community‑led rural EV infrastructure.

Our partners

• Charge my Street with technical support from Hangar19 and FUUSE
• Durham Community Action
• Teesdale Action Partnership
• Cybermoor
• Rural Design Centre
• The five rural community hubs