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 …
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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 million of funding.29 ChargeUK, which represents many of the companies installing charge points, stated that several months have passed with limited updates, creating unhelpful uncertainty, and clear direction on the status of the fund is needed for industry to plan investments with confidence.30 The Department stated that when this programme was first conceived, the world was very different and much more appetite for private investment has emerged since, and there have also been changes in how electricity upgrades are funded. The programme has also had to navigate competition concerns in the sector as well as the risk of legal 24 Q 63; C&AG’s Report para 12 25 Qq 63, 73 26 Q 76; C&AG’s Report para 13 27 C&AG’s Report para 11 28 Qq 29, 58–59; C&AG’s Report 2.17 29 C&AG’s Report Figure 7 30 EVS0015 13 challenge. These aspects mean that the programme’s original concept is probably not how it will work in the future, and the Department hopes to be able to provide more information shortly.31 Next steps in developing the public charge point network
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem have put in place a Connections Action Plan to seek to remedy this. However, the connections queue is still growing, with competing demands from other activity such as housing developments and new housing and internet cloud storage, which may not all be satisfied if grid connections do not accelerate. 34 When asked how the Department is working with grid operators to enable charge point installation specifically, the Department explained that there remain challenges with inconsistent process between network operators, and with people being aware of the standing charges they would pay when they request an enhanced connection. The Department stated that it did a piece of work with charge point companies and the Energy Networks Association on the specific grid connection challenges they face, to get them to work together more efficiently and smooth out processes. 35 31 Qq71–72; C&AG’s Report para 13 32 C&AG’s Report para 8 33 Q 84 34 Qq 81, 98; C&AG’s Report 14 35 Q 81 14
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Government response AI summary
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 processes with network operators.
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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 …
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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 own their own home and have access to off–street parking with private charging, which impacts them financially.50 The Department stated that the cost disparity in charging, depending on whether one has access to off–street parking or not, is probably the single biggest challenge to the electric vehicle transition in the UK.51 However, while monitoring that cost disparity, it was not monitoring specifically how different groups of people were impacted by it. It told us that it could do so in future.52 Charge point accessibility
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Government response AI summary
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.
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HM Treasury