Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted
Determine actions to ensure public charging network meets needs of all drivers and remote locations
Recommendation
The uptake of electric vehicles and rollout of public charge points is expected to increase over the coming years, as new petrol and diesel vehicle sales are phased out. The Department’s 2022 electric vehicle infrastructure strategy contained a series of commitments intended to accelerate the pace of charge point installation, address barriers and improve public confidence to enable this period of rapid growth. The Department has carried out the majority of these commitments, with its two major programmes, LEVI and the RCF, ongoing.32 The Department must now determine what actions are needed for the next phase of the rollout in ensuring that the public charging network can meet the needs of all drivers, and not just enthusiastic early adopters of electric vehicles.33 This includes understanding what challenges might remain in getting to the harder to reach locations and users.
Government Response Summary
The government states the recommendation is implemented, highlighting its vision for universal charging access, ongoing work to meet the 2030 charging device target, the April 2025 consultation response, the digitalization of Traffic Regulation Orders coming into force later in 2025, and OZEV's role in encouraging chargepoint installation on major road schemes.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Recommendation implemented 6.2 The government’s vision is that all drivers can charge conveniently for both daily and long-distance driving and that there is a compelling, and visible, charging offer for prospective electric vehicle (EV) purchasers. 6.3 As set out in the report, the UK is on track to meeting a projected need of 300,000 public charging devices by 2030. The clarity on the transition to EVs has catalysed over £6 billion of private sector investment in UK charging infrastructure. The publication on 7 April 2025 of the response to the consultation on phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and supporting the ZEV transition shows the government has worked with the industry to both strengthen its commitment to the phase out and introduce practical reforms to support industry to meet this ambition. 6.4 Going forward there is a key role for government to address challenges ahead by further: simplifying chargepoint installation, ensuring nationwide chargepoint distribution and strong rapid chargepoint coverage and maintaining an accessible public charging experience. 6.5 Traffic regulation orders (TRO) can enforce and designate EV only, on-street parking bays. The department is digitalising TROs and will require all authorities that use them to send digital copies to a central publication platform that the department is building. This will reduce the time it takes for authorities to make TROs. The digital publication service (D-TRO) has been built and is available for voluntary use and testing. The requirement should come into force later in 2025. 6.6 The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is a joint unit between the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The department already works closely with DESNZ to ensure the improved rollout of chargepoints in all market areas. Within DfT, OZEV sits in the Road Transport Group, enabling OZEV to work closely with colleagues to encourage the installation of chargepoints on major road schemes.