Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
We asked what the Departments were planning to do about the higher cost of charging...
Conclusion
We asked what the Departments were planning to do about the higher cost of charging on the public network compared to home charging.18 A National Audit Office analysis of public data suggests that charging at home can cost between 59% and 78% less than charging on the public network.19 The Department for Transport told us it expects there to be more competition in the market and innovation which may benefit consumers in terms of the price paid for electricity. It also suggested that electric cars might, for example, act as energy stores when plugged in at home to feed back to the grid at peak time and recharge at times were there is lower demand and cost. It thinks rapid charging in public, however, will always be more expensive than charging overnight at home.20
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2: PAC conclusion: There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to increase the uptake of zero-emission cars. 2: PAC recommendation: The Departments for Transport and for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy need to have a sufficient understanding of how changes to the vehicle market are impacting, and going to impact, different types of consumers in different parts of the country. Their plan for expanding the number of zero-emission cars on our roads needs to clearly set out how they propose to tackle emerging consumer issues. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2021. 2.2 The government wants consumers and businesses across the UK to benefit from the transition to ZEVs. The 2035 Delivery Plan set out key commitments, funding and milestones to help achieve the transition, and the EV infrastructure strategy (autumn 2021) will set out the vision and action plan for charging infrastructure roll out. The government is already taking steps to tackle consumer issues, including: 2.3 Affordability: The government’s plug in vehicle grants provide money off the up-front purchase price for people making the switch to EVs. Tax incentives are also available, including favourable company car tax rates, which can save drivers over £2,000 a year. The government is also supporting the second hand EV market, through support for charging infrastructure and zero vehicle excise duty for ZEVs. 2.4 Charging provision: The DfT is investing £1.3 billion in accelerating the roll out of charging infrastructure over the next four years, targeting support on rapid chargepoints on motorways and major roads, and supporting the installation of more on-street chargepoints near homes and workplaces. 2.5 Consumer experience of public charging: The DfT has consulted on using powers under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 to make it easy to pay to charge a vehicle, ensure reliability and make chargepoint data freely available, helping drivers easily locate and access available charge points. The DfT plans to regulate later in 2021. 3 2.6 The government will continue to work closely with a range of bodies representing consumers and will continue to monitor consumer issues and needs as we move from early to mass market. Departments will continue to make the case for government intervention as necessary at the forthcoming 2021 Spending Review.