Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Public charge point requirements vary significantly by local area, influenced by diverse needs
Conclusion
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 45% for urban ones. However, at a more local level you could have a village with a lot of terraced housing which would require more public charge points than a suburban community in a city which has a lot of off–street parking.9 Similarly, tourist areas might have seasonal changes in charging demand when their populations significantly increase at certain points of the year. The Department stated that it has seen local authorities considering these kinds of aspects in their plans for charging in their areas, though some places, such as national parks, may struggle due to their distance from the electricity grid.10 5 C&AG’s Report, para 6; HM Government, Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: January 2025, February 2025, Headline Figures 6 C&AG’s Report para 7; HM Government, Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: January 2025 7 Q 6 8 Qq 6, 19, 21 9 Qq 19 21 10 Qq 26 58 10
Government Response Summary
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 allocation. It also commits to taking a similar needs-based approach for future interventions and using outcomes from early LEVI procurements.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented: April 2025 1.2 The department currently produces quarterly statistics on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure which breaks down chargepoint provision by local authority. As part of these releases, statistics on the number of charging devices per 100,000 population are produced which shows the relative provision of local authorities, accounting for the number of residents. This data allows ongoing monitoring and assessment of sub-regional variability. 1.3 Sub-regional need was a guiding principle when allocating Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding. Four variables were used to assess need and allocate funding to local authorities. The number of public charging devices per 100,000 was included in the allocation model to capture existing levels of charging infrastructure across the country. The estimated number of vehicles without off-street parking was included to reflect the increased need for public charging in areas with a heavier reliance on the public charging network. The relative level of deprivation across England and the level of rurality were also included in the funding allocation calculation. These variables were included as areas with more rural households and greater levels of deprivation are less likely to present a positive commercial case for private sector provision. 1.4 The government will look to take a similar needs-based approach to any interventions required in future. The government will also pay close attention to outcomes from early LEVI Fund procurements and their impact on sub-regional variability and use these in the design of future interventions.