Recommendations & Conclusions
31 items
2
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
Delays to the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme mean that local authorities need further support. The £450m LEVI programme supports local authorities in England to install charge points where they identify they are most needed. In setting up the programme the Department was able to apply lessons from its …
Government response. The government provided specific updates on LEVI project approvals, funding awarded (£324.6 million for 71 projects), and confirmed an additional £22 million for the LEVI Capability Fund in 2025-26. It committed to continue supporting local authorities and will provide further …
HM Treasury
3
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The Department has been slow to ensure the availability of ultra–rapid charge points at motorway service areas. Motorway service areas are vital for providing confidence to drivers that charge points are widespread and will be available on longer journeys. The Department had an ambition that operators would install 6 ultra–rapid …
Government response. The government committed to writing to the Committee by September 2025 with an update on ultra-rapid charge point rollout on the SRN and at motorway service areas, including work to understand why gaps exist and outlining next steps to address …
HM Treasury
4
Recommendation
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The Department has put in place regulations to improve consumer experience, but some drivers pay significantly more than others to charge their vehicles. In 2023, the Department introduced the Public Charge point Regulations to address early consumer concerns around price transparency, payment complexity and reliability. Public charge points also need …
Government response. The government stated it will monitor the Public Charge Point Regulations through OPSS reporting, a Technology Tracker, open data, and stakeholder engagement, with a review within five years. It already monitors charging costs across channels and will continue to work …
HM Treasury
5
Recommendation
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Acknowledged
The interests of drivers with disabilities have been left behind in the rollout of public charge points. By 2035, 1.35 million drivers with disabilities are expected to be partially or wholly dependent on public charge points, but many charge points, or their surrounding environment, have features which make them inaccessible. …
Government response. The government stated it is reviewing the PAS 1899:2022 accessibility standard with stakeholders and will confirm recommendations and proposed next steps 'in due course'. It will also continue to monitor international standards and drive efforts to harmonise in the future.
HM Treasury
6
Recommendation
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The Department has more to do in planning ahead for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The uptake of electric vehicles and rollout of public charge points is expected to increase over the coming years, as new petrol and diesel vehicle sales are phased out. The Department must now determine …
Government response. The government detailed its vision for a well-functioning public charging network and committed to digitalising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to simplify dedicated EV parking, with a requirement coming into force later in 2025. It also stated that OZEV, a joint …
HM Treasury
1
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department) about public charge points for electric vehicles.1 The government has committed to phasing out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030, with all new cars and vans …
Government response. The government explained its existing methods for monitoring sub-regional charge point provision and how LEVI funding was allocated based on needs, including off-street parking and deprivation. It committed to using a similar needs-based approach for future interventions and observing LEVI …
HM Treasury
7
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
Different areas have different requirements for where public charge points should be located and how many are needed. The Department explained that the proportion of public charge points in rural areas broadly aligns with their population and in general 86% of houses in these areas have off–street parking, compared to …
Government response. The government states the recommendation is implemented, noting that it already produces quarterly statistics breaking down chargepoint provision by local authority for monitoring sub-regional variability, and that sub-regional need was a guiding principle for Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding …
HM Treasury
8
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
However, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority reported to us that while the LEVI programme is attempting to mitigate broader regional inequalities, operators bidding for these contracts are still likely to focus on more commercially viable areas within regions. It explained that rural areas tend to be less financially …
Government response. The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, detailing how LEVI funding allocation already uses a needs-based approach incorporating variables like rurality and deprivation to address areas less commercially viable for private sector provision. It commits to taking a …
HM Treasury
9
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The Department’s current measure of the number of ‘charge points per head’ in each region does not reflect the variations within regions, or what is required in the future.12 We challenged the Department as to what it would do if the distribution of charge points did not improve ahead of …
Government response. The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, explaining that it already produces quarterly statistics broken down by local authority and per capita, which enables monitoring of sub-regional variability. It confirms that sub-regional need was a guiding principle for …
HM Treasury
10
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The £450m LEVI programme supports local authorities in England to install charge points where they identify they are most needed.14 The Department has learned important lessons from previous schemes such as its On–Street Residential Charge point scheme. Many central government grants to local authorities are demand–led, requiring local authorities to …
Government response. The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion and provides an update on the LEVI programme, highlighting further project approvals, significant capital funding awards, and an additional £22 million for the LEVI Capability Fund for 2025-26, demonstrating continued support for local …
HM Treasury
11
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
However, the Department expected local authorities to move at a quick pace, and build their capability to plan for charge point for rollout at the same time as developing projects to deliver. As a result, it took local authorities longer to develop plans to the Department’s standards than expected.17 The …
Government response. The government has committed an additional £22 million to continue the LEVI Capability Fund in 2025-26, directly addressing the committee's observation about the need for capability funding for local authorities. The department will also provide a six-month update on LEVI …
HM Treasury
12
Recommendation
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
These issues have led to delays; by October 2024 only 10 out of 78 projects had been approved for delivery against a March 2025 deadline. These delays have meant that many local authorities are going to market at similar times, posing the risk that the market may not have the …
Government response. The government agrees and commits to continuing to support local authorities, citing the approval of more LEVI projects, substantial capital funding awards, and an additional £22 million to the LEVI Capability Fund for 2025-26 to ensure local authorities retain expertise. …
HM Treasury
13
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Deferred
Public ultra–rapid charge points across along motorways and major A–roads (collectively known as the strategic road network) are necessary to address “range anxiety” amongst motorists. Motorway service areas in particular act like the “shop window” for providing confidence to drivers that charge points are widespread.23
Government response. The government agrees with the observation regarding the necessity of ultra-rapid charge points on the strategic road network. They will provide an update in September 2025 on rollout progress, gaps, and next steps to address these.
HM Treasury
14
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Deferred
The Department had an ambition that operators would install six ultra rapid charge points at every motorway service area by the end of 2023. However, only around half installed that many charge points by that time, and by January 2025 only 80 out of 114 met this target. The Department …
Government response. The government agrees with the observation regarding the slow rollout of ultra-rapid charge points and acknowledges the challenges. They will provide an update to the Committee in September 2025, outlining work to understand provision gaps and next steps to address …
HM Treasury
15
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Deferred
The Department stated that there was not necessarily a very scientific underpinning for using six ultra–rapid charge points as its benchmark today, however, meeting charge point demand in the longer term might require much more than this, and in July 2024 only around 10% of motorway service areas in England …
Government response. The government agrees with the observation regarding the benchmark for charge points and power capacity. They will provide an update to the Committee in September 2025 on the rollout of ultra-rapid chargepoints, including understanding provision gaps and outlining next steps.
HM Treasury
16
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Deferred
The number of ultra rapid charge points installed within one mile of the wider strategic road network has exceeded the Department’s expectations, with 2,377 installed by July 2024, against a target of 2,500 by 2030.27 However, distribution remains a problem; for example, there are stretches of major A–roads in the …
Government response. The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to providing an update in September 2025 on the rollout of ultra-rapid chargepoints, including work undertaken to understand existing distribution gaps and outlining next steps to address them.
HM Treasury
17
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Not Addressed
In 2020 the Department announced the rapid charging fund, intended to future proof electricity capacity on the strategic road network in the longer term, by part–funding the capital costs of upgraded grid connections. However, nearly five years after its announcement, the Department has yet to issue any of its £950 …
Government response. The government's response is identical to the previous item and focuses on the general rollout of chargepoints and addressing distribution gaps, rather than providing the requested clear direction on the status and future of the £950 million Rapid Charging Fund.
HM Treasury
18
Recommendation
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The uptake of electric vehicles and rollout of public charge points is expected to increase over the coming years, as new petrol and diesel vehicle sales are phased out. The Department’s 2022 electric vehicle infrastructure strategy contained a series of commitments intended to accelerate the pace of charge point installation, …
Government response. The government states the recommendation is implemented, highlighting its vision for universal charging access, ongoing work to meet the 2030 charging device target, the April 2025 consultation response, the digitalization of Traffic Regulation Orders coming into force later in 2025, …
HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Not Addressed
As with motorway service areas, many of these locations are limited by the strength of the local electricity network and the ability to enhance and connect to it. The Government recognises that the processes to receive electricity grid connections are increasingly unfit for purpose and take too long, and the …
Government response. The government response outlines its vision for EV charging, and discusses efforts related to traffic regulation orders and OZEV's role in major road schemes. However, it does not address the specific concerns raised about electricity grid connection challenges and inconsistent …
HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
Similarly, many planning processes were not designed with charge point operators in mind, causing unnecessary additional cost and time. The Department explained that it had recently announced a series of changes to ease planning barriers and make it easier to install a charge point, such as greater permitted development rights, …
Government response. The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, committing to digitalising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and requiring all authorities to submit digital copies to a central platform, with this requirement coming into force later in 2025 to reduce application …
HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted in Part
In addition to removing barriers to charge point rollout, enabling the transition to electric vehicles requires addressing wider aspects such as ensuring that charge point demand is considered when new major road schemes are created, and fire safety techniques are updated.38 In written correspondence provided after our evidence session the …
Government response. The government confirms OZEV works within the DfT's Road Transport Group to encourage chargepoint installation on major road schemes, addressing one aspect of the conclusion. However, the provided response does not detail actions on fire safety techniques or related public …
HM Treasury
22
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
In 2021, the Department consulted on drivers’ experience of using public charge points, identifying that the use of public charge points was becoming too complex. In particular, there were too many different payment methods required between different operators, pricing was often unclear and charge points were often unreliable.41
Government response. The government has appointed the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to regulate the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which address the identified concerns about complexity, payment methods, and reliability. The department will monitor compliance and review the PCPR …
HM Treasury
23
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
In 2023, the Department introduced the Public Charge point Regulations to address these concerns. These are being introduced over two years to November 2025, but most are already in force. Regulations that are in force include: • Making prices clearer and easier to compare by requiring the maximum price for …
Government response. The government confirms the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 are being regulated by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, with ongoing monitoring of compliance and impact, and a review planned within five years.
HM Treasury
24
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
When asked how it will monitor whether the regulations are working as intended the Department stated that it is only just starting to see the impact of these regulations and will keep them under review, in part 41 C&AG’s Report para 15 42 Q 82; C&AG’s Report paras 15, 3.3 …
Government response. The government states the recommendation is implemented, confirming it has appointed OPSS as regulator for the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 and will monitor compliance through OPSS reports, its Technology Tracker, chargepoint data, and engagement with industry. The regulations will …
HM Treasury
25
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Acknowledged
The Department expects that most people will charge their vehicles at home using private charge points, however, those reliant solely on public charging, such as those without access to off–street parking, pay significantly more to charge their vehicles. This is because the cost of public charging reflects aspects such as …
Government response. The government agrees with the committee's conclusion, stating it has appointed OPSS to regulate the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, already monitors the cost of charging across various channels, and will continue to work with HM Treasury to understand cost …
HM Treasury
26
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
The Department stated that it monitors the different prices charged by different networks, and models the costs of different charging behaviours, such as whether someone does all their charging overnight on a driveway or entirely on more expensive rapid charging on the public network.46 The Department has also made efforts …
Government response. The government confirms it already monitors charging costs across various channels and will continue to work with HM Treasury to understand cost variance. It also outlines new monitoring for the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023.
HM Treasury
27
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Not Addressed
The Department acknowledged that there are certain demographic groups who are less likely to have off street parking, meaning that people may pay more to drive electric vehicles due to the type of home they live in.49 For example, the Motability Foundation stated that disabled people are less likely to …
Government response. The government details general monitoring of the Public Charge Point Regulations and charging costs, but does not specifically commit to monitoring how cost disparity impacts different demographic groups, which was the core issue highlighted in the committee's observation.
HM Treasury
28
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Acknowledged
By 2035, 1.35 million drivers with disabilities are expected to be partially or wholly dependent on public charge points, but many charge points, or their surrounding environment, have features which make them inaccessible. These include features such as charge points being placed on kerbs or with obstructions which present difficulties …
Government response. The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and highlights its ongoing work to review the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 standard for accessibility, with recommendations and next steps to be confirmed in …
HM Treasury
29
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
However, the Department has not mandated use of the standard. The Motability Foundation told us that two years on from its launch, there are still no charge points in the UK which are fully compliant with the standard. Charge point operators and local authorities have reported that they need to …
Government response. The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and highlights its ongoing work with stakeholders to review the PAS 1899:2022 standard for chargepoint accessibility. Recommendations and proposed next steps from this review are …
HM Treasury
30
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Accepted
One of the barriers identified by charge point operators is the availability of components for an accessible charge point. Both the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) and the Motability Foundation report that most operators do not produce their own hardware, and so must source components from international …
Government response. The government agrees with the Committee, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and commits to continuing to monitor and drive efforts to harmonise with emerging international standards for chargepoint accessibility. The department is also reviewing the PAS 1899:2022 …
HM Treasury
31
Conclusion
14th Report - Public charge points for …
Acknowledged
Many disabled people are reliant on their cars as existing public transport does not adequately cater for their needs.58 Failure to address problems with the uptake of the standard will mean that the public charge point network will continue to develop without meeting the needs of drivers with disabilities.59 55 …
Government response. The government agrees that the chargepoint network needs to work for all users and is currently reviewing the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 standard for accessibility, with recommendations and proposed next steps to be confirmed in due course. It will …
HM Treasury