The rollout of public charge points for electric vehicles is gathering pace, but too few are being installed outside London and the South-East, according to a new report published today by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
At the start of 2025, around 73,000 charge points had been installed across the UK, keeping the Department for Transport (the Department) on track to meet its estimated minimum target of 300,000 by 2030.
However, PAC warned that these charge points must be distributed more evenly, with 43% currently located in London and the South-East, leaving other regions and rural areas underserved.
The Department is funding work to improve public charge point distribution, but delays persist. The report highlights that while the Department aimed for every motorway service area to have at least six ultra-rapid charge points by 2023, this was only achieved at 80 of the 114 service areas by early 2025.
Meanwhile, the Department’s £950m rapid charging fund, intended to future-proof electricity connections on the strategic road network, has yet to issue any funding, despite being launched five years ago.
Support for local authorities has been more effective, but the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure programme now faces risks as it moves into delivery. Regulations introduced to enhance the public charging experience—including clearer pricing and minimum reliability standards for rapid chargers—are still too new to assess their effectiveness.
The report warns that issues such as the stark cost difference between public and private charging, exacerbated by a 20% VAT rate on public charging compared to 5% for home charging, must be addressed. This particularly impacts those without access to off-street parking, making EV ownership disproportionately expensive for those on lower incomes.
Accessibility remains a major concern, with many charge points still unusable for drivers with disabilities. While the Department helped develop an accessibility standard, charge point operators and local authorities have indicated that clearer guidance is needed. PAC has urged the Department to act swiftly to ensure inclusivity as the rollout accelerates.
With the Government’s commitment to phasing out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030 and mandating all new cars and vans to be zero-emission from 2035, the Department must now refine its strategy. PAC stressed the need for a more detailed understanding of regional support requirements, particularly in rural and remote areas where commercial viability is lower. It also urged collaboration with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure major road projects integrate more charging infrastructure.
