14th Report - Public charge points for electric vehicles

The government stated it will monitor the Public Charge Point Regulations through OPSS reporting, a Technology Tracker, open data, and stakeholder engagement, with a review within five years. It already monitors charging costs across channels and will continue to work with HM Treasury to understand VAT variance.

The government detailed its vision for a well-functioning public charging network and committed to digitalising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to simplify dedicated EV parking, with a requirement coming into force later in 2025. It also stated that OZEV, a joint unit, already ensures close coordination between DfT and DESNZ on charge point rollout.

The government agrees and commits to continuing to support local authorities, citing the approval of more LEVI projects, substantial capital funding awards, and an additional £22 million to the LEVI Capability Fund for 2025-26 to ensure local authorities retain expertise. The department will also update the Committee within six months.

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.

The government provided specific updates on LEVI project approvals, funding awarded (£324.6 million for 71 projects), and confirmed an additional £22 million for the LEVI Capability Fund in 2025-26. It committed to continue supporting local authorities and will provide further updates within six months.

The government committed to writing to the Committee by September 2025 with an update on ultra-rapid charge point rollout on the SRN and at motorway service areas, including work to understand why gaps exist and outlining next steps to address them.

The government explained its existing methods for monitoring sub-regional charge point provision and how LEVI funding was allocated based on needs, including off-street parking and deprivation. It committed to using a similar needs-based approach for future interventions and observing LEVI fund outcomes.

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.

The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, detailing how LEVI funding allocation already uses a needs-based approach incorporating variables like rurality and deprivation to address areas less commercially viable for private sector provision. It commits to taking a similar approach for any future interventions.

The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, explaining that it already produces quarterly statistics broken down by local authority and per capita, which enables monitoring of sub-regional variability. It confirms that sub-regional need was a guiding principle for LEVI funding allocation and commits to taking a similar needs-based approach for future interventions.

The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion and provides an update on the LEVI programme, highlighting further project approvals, significant capital funding awards, and an additional £22 million for the LEVI Capability Fund for 2025-26, demonstrating continued support for local authorities within the existing framework.

The government has committed an additional £22 million to continue the LEVI Capability Fund in 2025-26, directly addressing the committee's observation about the need for capability funding for local authorities. The department will also provide a six-month update on LEVI programme progress.

The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, committing to digitalising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and requiring all authorities to submit digital copies to a central platform, with this requirement coming into force later in 2025 to reduce application times.

The government has appointed the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to regulate the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which address the identified concerns about complexity, payment methods, and reliability. The department will monitor compliance and review the PCPR within five years.

The government confirms the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 are being regulated by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, with ongoing monitoring of compliance and impact, and a review planned within five years.

The government states the recommendation is implemented, confirming it has appointed OPSS as regulator for the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 and will monitor compliance through OPSS reports, its Technology Tracker, chargepoint data, and engagement with industry. The regulations will be reviewed within five years.

The government confirms it already monitors charging costs across various channels and will continue to work with HM Treasury to understand cost variance. It also outlines new monitoring for the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023.

The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and highlights its ongoing work with stakeholders to review the PAS 1899:2022 standard for chargepoint accessibility. Recommendations and proposed next steps from this review are to be confirmed in due course.

The government agrees with the Committee, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and commits to continuing to monitor and drive efforts to harmonise with emerging international standards for chargepoint accessibility. The department is also reviewing the PAS 1899:2022 standard, with recommendations and next steps to be confirmed.