LOCATE EV

LOCATE EV is a cloud-based, fully web-based platform for planning electric vehicle chargepoint (EVCP) networks across the UK, built on core architecture from Hexagon and delivered by Geospatial Insight. It brings together demand, infrastructure and constraint datasets: existing chargepoint locations, UK Census data, power infrastructure and grid constraints, conservation and risk status, Clean Air Zones and ULEZs, and property-level driveway probability. It adds partner data from AppyWay (Traffic Regulation Orders), Bluesky (high-resolution aerial photography and the National Tree Map), Zapmap (chargepoint intelligence) and Outra (socio-demographics). It digitalises the most labour-intensive parts of site survey and verification. Users can work out current and future charging demand, create virtual charging networks to test deployment scenarios, and identify situational and power-based constraints. Results appear instantly on screen, and no third-party software or maintenance is needed. The map-based interface offers several backdrops, including satellite imagery, and integrates street-level imagery. LOCATE EV comes in two tiers. Tier 1 combines collated open data with planning tools down to neighbourhood or street level. Tier 2 adds proprietary data, including driveway availability and mobile connectivity layers, for planning down to individual properties.

Key capabilities:

• Demand & Catchment Analysis: Identify high-demand areas, including residents without off-street parking, and upload candidate chargepoint locations for real-time calculation of catchment areas, travel times and households served.
• Virtual Charging Networks: Model and test EVCP deployment scenarios to find the most beneficial locations based on potential user demand and accessibility.
• Grid Constraint Analysis: Assess power network constraints alongside situational constraints to check where installations are feasible.
• Site Intelligence Export: Extract and export locational data for candidate sites, such as the share of terraced housing, car utilisation rates, EV uptake, existing chargepoints and points of interest.
• Funding Evidence: Produces the evidence needed to access ORCS and LEVI funding. East Lothian Council used it to support a successful DfT OLEV funding bid.

Local authorities the provider names as users include Oxfordshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Milton Keynes Council, East Lothian Council and BCP Council. Luton Borough Council used LOCATE EV to plan the rollout of its £1.3 million LEVI award. Charge point operators Be.EV and Char.gy also use the platform, and a free two-week trial is available.