DfT criticised over patchy EV charging points

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines the value for money of Government projects, programmes and service delivery, said the DfT had been slow to address gaps in charge point provision and added that delays in the EV charging rollout should be addressed. PAC also raised concerns over the stark regional divide between London and rest of the country.

While the Government is on track to reach the minimum 300,000 points needed by 2030, those installed so far have not been evenly spread across the country. Too few have been installed outside the South East and London, which currently host 43% of all charge points. The report found that rural areas may continue to be less commercially viable for operators and could require further government intervention. It also warns that charge points need to be installed in advance of need and says that patchy availability for electric vehicle charging ‘plagues large swathes of UK motorways’.

Motorway service areas in particular act as a ‘shop window’ for drivers to feel secure that charge points are widespread. However, approximately a third of the 114 areas had yet to meet DfT’s original ambitions for each to have six ultra-rapid charge points by the end of 2023. And while the 2020 Spending Review included the announcement of the £950m Rapid Charging Fund, this funding is still not underway, despite already being trialled at 10 sites.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the committee, said: “We are risking baking a serious injustice into the fabric of a major part of our national infrastructure. Government needs to understand how to remedy financial inequalities for those who have no choice but to use public charge points. Our report challenges the Government – it must move at pace to overcome current delays and encourage take-up, while taking the time to ensure no-one gets left behind in this all-important shift to the future.”

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