Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Not Addressed
Rapid Charging Fund unspent after five years, creating industry investment uncertainty
Conclusion
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
Government Response 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.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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.