Public EV charge point installations in the UK are on track for the Government’s 2030 target but major challenges remain on the location of charge points, accessibility and wider barriers such as planning rules.

DfT anticipates that its work will support the trajectory needed to reach 300,000 public charge points by 2030

A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO), carried out to see whether the Department for Transport (DfT) is achieving value for money in the rollout of electric vehicle infrastructure, finds that 64,632 electric vehicle charge points had been installed as of July 2024.

This is in line with projections made by the DfT, through the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles. DfT anticipates that its local charge point programme and continued growth in private installations will support the trajectory needed to reach 300,000 by 2030.

While the overall number of charge point installations is on track, the estimate does not account for where charge points should be installed. This has created a regional divide; 44% of public charge points in the UK have been installed in London and the South-East, while only 15% of charge points in England are in rural areas. London has more charge points installed per capita than any other region.

DfT established the local electric vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) programme to support local authorities in rolling out charge points: a £450m fund running between 2022-23 and March 2025. Through LEVI, DFT is supporting more local authorities to install charge points, and currently forecasts the programme will install of at least 100,000 charge points. But the programme has faced delays, owing to local authority plans taking longer to develop than DfT expected and an established procurement route proving no longer feasible. Consequently, local authorities may need further government support beyond the current programme end date.

The location of charge points is also an issue along the strategic road network: motorways and major A-roads. Whilst the number of rapid and ultra-rapid charge points installed along the strategic road network has exceeded DfT’s expectations, there are stretches of A-roads which don’t have sufficient charge points. In 2020, the Government announced an aim for six ultra-rapid charge points at every motorway service area in England by 2023, anticipating that the private sector would be able to achieve this. As of July 2024, 62% of service areas have met this.

The UK’s charge point rollout is being hindered because it is slower and more expensive than it needs to be for charge point operators to get planning permissions and electricity grid connections.  In response, government is working with stakeholders to streamline planning and connection processes where possible, and is considering more fundamental reform, including looking at rules around highway consents and gaining landowner permissions for development.

Consumers have numerous concerns over using public charge points, which government has put in place regulation to address. These concerns include complexity in using charge points, with operators having different ways to pay; pricing being unclear or unduly expensive; and malfunctioning or inoperative charge points. It is still too early to say whether OZEV’s regulatory intervention has helped, as many of its requirements only came into force from November 2024.

Drivers with disabilities have been left behind in the rollout to date; many charge points – and their surrounding environments – have features that make them inaccessible. These include charge points placed on kerbs, with nearby obstructions, or those closely spaced together, presenting difficulties for wheelchair users. DfT said in its 2018 inclusive transport strategy that the Equality Act 2010 was applicable to the provision of charge points, and co-sponsored the creation of a standard which specifies minimum requirements for charge point accessibility. However, industry and local authorities have reported further clarity is needed on compliance with this standard, and DfT has established a technical group to address these issues.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Government’s estimate of the 300,000 public electric vehicle charge points needed by 2030 appears achievable, although there is more to do to ensure adequate coverage in all parts of the country. Government is using regulation to improve the user experience of public charge points and needs to address access for people with disabilities.”

EVA England said the findings were encouraging but added that more clearly needs to be done to address regional disparities.

A spokesperson for the association said: “A perceived lack of access to reliable charging is a major barrier to uptake and is impacting the day-to-day experience of EV drivers. EVA England’s latest survey, for instance, has found drivers without consistent access to charging are less confident and more concerned over charging costs, compared to those with direct means of charging at home.”

The AA also welcomed progress in important infrastructure developments but also said communities must not be left behind.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “The NAO is right to point out that Northern and rural areas are not seeing installations at the same rate as the South. Similarly, we must ensure that the major A-road network can provide regular charging points.

“To provide confidence to drivers now and in the future, it is crucial that all road users, including those with mobility issues, can use public chargers easily. That means ensuring step-free access to the charger, plugs and cables which are light enough for people to use and, vitally, ease of payment. We are optimistic that the charge point operators, DfT, local authorities and communities can continue their positive work and reach the 2030 target.”

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO at Zapmap, commented: “Zapmap’s latest annual survey showed that 61% of EV drivers think the charging network has improved, but there were still concerns as have been identified in this latest report.

“Over the past couple of years there has been a significant leap forward in the number of charge points available to EV drivers, particularly the crucial ultra-rapid chargers and charging hubs to support EV drivers on longer journeys. These are quite well-spread across the country too whilst the slower local chargers, important for drivers who can’t charge at home, is where we see the issue of geographical concentration. Having access to charging at a local level is essential for an equitable transition to electric vehicles and the LEVI fund has been put in place to help deliver this, but as the NAO has identified delays remain.

“The UK’s EV charging network has seen transformational growth, but more still needs to be done to ensure it is fairer for drivers regardless of where they live.”

Finally, Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, remarked: “We know that people want to make more sustainable choices, yet Which? research found that half of drivers that don’t currently own an EV see the availability of public charge points as a barrier to purchasing one.

“Our research uncovered that only 43% of rural consumers intend to or would consider buying an EV as their next vehicle, compared to 52% in urban areas, with those in more remote areas concerned about EV’s range, reliability and breakdown assistance.

“Which? is calling on the government to clarify the responsibilities of local authorities and ensure authorities, including those in rural areas, have the guidance and support they need to expand the network. Public funding for charge points should be targeted to areas where the market is not delivering.”

The NAO report on charging is online here.