Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Motorway ultra-rapid charge point targets missed due to optimistic planning and grid connection issues
Conclusion
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 acknowledged that there was probably a degree of naivete about how 18 Q 51 19 Q 5; C&AG’s Report para 10 20 Q44–45, C&AG’s Report para 10 21 Qq 9, 45 22 Qq 51–52 23 Q 61 12 long it would take when setting its ambition of six by 2023, particularly in how difficult it would be to secure electricity grid connections in locations that are tough to get enough power to at a cost that is not prohibitive.24 It anticipated that 100 would meet this target by summer, with all but four having at least six ultra–rapid charge points by the end of 2026.25
Government Response Summary
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 them.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2025 3.2 As set out in the NAO’s report, the number of chargepoints installed on and around the Strategic Road Network (SRN) that can charge vehicles quickly has grown substantially and is ahead of expectations. As of January 2025, there are more than 5,250 rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints within one mile of the SRN, including more than 1,100 at motorway service areas. This means that the number of chargepoints on both measures has doubled over the last 18 months. 3.3 However, there is more to do to improve the distribution of chargepoints on the SRN. There are some motorway service areas without a minimum baseline provision as well as gaps in chargepoint provision on some stretches of major A roads. There are also many charging sites that will require large power capacity upgrades to meet future demand, some of which may not be commercially viable in the near term. 3.4 The government will write to the Committee in September 2025 to provide an update on the rollout of ultra-rapid chargepoints at motorway service areas and across the wider SRN. This update will include work that has been undertaken to understand why gaps in provision exist and outline next steps to address these gaps.