EV charging infrastructure

#103 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should explore what more it can do to facilitate this, for example by expanding on the support and guidance currently available through the LEVI support body.

Response attribution not verified

#102 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard that DnOs and other stakeholders such as local authorities and chargepoint operators could benefit from improved data sharing, online tools to support the planning and permitting process and more pro-active engagement between DnOs and customers.

Response attribution not verified

#99 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government define and label grid upgrades to support chargepoint installations as ‘Nationally Critical Infrastructure’ projects and prioritise the grid upgrades needed to deliver EV infrastructure.

Response attribution not verified

#98 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government consult Ofgem and industry to identify opportunities to increase anticipatory investment in grid upgrades for the distribution network to future-proof local grids for the EV transition.

Response attribution not verified

#97 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We note the changes made to the RIIO price control to allow for more anticipatory investment and emphasise that this additional investment is essential to support chargepoint deployment at pace. However, we heard concern that this may still be insufficient.

Response attribution not verified

#96 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government considers how best to prioritise EV chargepoints in the queue as projects of strategic and national importance. (Paragraph 292) EV STRATEGY: RAPID RECHARGE nEEDED 109

Response attribution not verified

#95 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the recently announced Connections Action Plan and urge the Government to move quickly to implement the crucial changes to address the delays currently experienced in the queue for grid connections. We recommend that the Government considers how best …

Response attribution not verified

#92 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Instead, we recommend that chargepoint hubs over a certain size should be required to have a proportion of accessible chargers available that meet these standards.

Response attribution not verified

#91 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard that the British Standards Institute Guidance on accessible charging (PAS 1899) provides good standards for making chargepoints accessible. It is crucial that those with disabilities can use public chargepoints. However, it may not be practicable for all chargepoints …

Response attribution not verified

#90 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government ensure contactless payment provisions of the 2023 Regulations are re-examined as part of the regular wider review of the Regulations we are calling for.

Response attribution not verified

#89 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Wider availability of contactless payment on the low powered chargepoint network could simplify and support chargepoint access for consumers. However, witnesses suggested the costs of installing contactless payment modules on the low powered network are significant compared to the cost …

Response attribution not verified

#88 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government ensure the Office for Product Safety and Security is sufficiently resourced, or considers moving oversight of these important Regulations to a body or Department working more closely on EV uptake, to 108 EV STRATEGY: RAPID …

Response attribution not verified

#87 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The success of the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 will be contingent on enforcement.

Response attribution not verified

#86 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that in the next review of the Regulations the Government consider mandating ‘totem signs’ on motorways at the approach to service stations with EV charging facilities.

Response attribution not verified

#85 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Effective communication with drivers about the location and availability of chargepoints will be essential to reducing range anxiety.

Response attribution not verified

#84 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Regulations should be reviewed by Summer 2025 at the latest. As part of this review, the Government should consider incorporating the Public Charging Charter and the targets of the FairCharge campaign into regulations.

Response attribution not verified

#83 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which recognise the centrality of chargepoints being accessible and user-friendly to a successful rollout. However, we encourage the Government to explore how these Regulations could go further to support consumers, especially as …

Response attribution not verified

#82 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government explore what more can be done to integrate these technologies into EV infrastructure rollout and to ensure consumers have access to these cost-saving measures.

Response attribution not verified

#81 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Committee heard that smart charging and vehicle-to-grid technologies are very promising, nascent technologies that could both reduce costs for consumers and balance demand on the grid as more low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps are connected to the grid.

Response attribution not verified

#80 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government’s interim review of the EV Smart Chargepoint Regulations 2021 is brought forward to 2024, and takes into account their interaction with the Measurement Instrument Regulations 2016 to ensure any potential conflicts are resolved as soon …

Response attribution not verified

#79 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard concerns about a lack of regulatory clarity holding back the widespread deployment of smart charging.

Response attribution not verified

#78 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government explore options for equalising the VAT differential between public and domestic charging by reducing the 20 per cent VAT rate applied to public charging to 5 per cent in line with domestic electricity. As part …

Response attribution not verified

#77 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We received near-unanimous support for the equalisation of VAT rates between domestic and public charging. While VAT is not the only component affecting the difference in electricity pricing between domestic and public EV STRATEGY: RAPID RECHARGE nEEDED 107 chargepoints, it …

Response attribution not verified

#76 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We reiterate our recommendation following our inquiry into the Boiler Upgrade Scheme that the Government review options for weakening the link between the price of wholesale gas and electricity through electricity market reform in order to reduce the cost of …

Response attribution not verified

#75 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Recent electricity price fluctuations have affected consumer confidence in the cost benefits of EVs. As EV uptake increases, EV owners will be more exposed to the cost of electricity.

Response attribution not verified

#74 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Home charging at all speeds currently offers significant cost benefits over petrol refuelling, and much of the slower public charging infrastructure is also cheaper. The Government should make this clear to consumers as part of the public information campaign that …

Response attribution not verified

#73 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should consider amendments to the Part S regulations following OZEV’s review of fire risks from chargepoints, to allow for installation in covered parking areas in new buildings.

Response attribution not verified

#72 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s updates to the building regulations which require all new developments with parking, and existing developments that are undergoing major renovation, to be fitted with chargepoints. However, these updates do not address obstacles to installing chargepoints in …

Response attribution not verified

#71 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government review Section 115B to determine whether it is fit for purpose as it applies to chargepoint installation and, if necessary, use the earliest legislative opportunity to amend the legislation to prevent further delays.

Response attribution not verified

#70 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard that application of Section 115B of the Highways Act 1980 to chargepoint installation is a major barrier to local authorities keen to progress with the rollout of infrastructure. It is time-consuming and establishes a disproportionately high threshold of …

Response attribution not verified

#69 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should publish its full response to the consultation as soon as possible.

Response attribution not verified

#68 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard that the Traffic Regulation Orders required to label parking bays as “EV-only” are causing significant delays in the delivery of chargepoint infrastructure. Though the Government launched a consultation into simplifying and streamlining the process for acquiring a Traffic …

Response attribution not verified

#67 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should review permitted development rights as they relate to chargepoint installation and launch a consultation that considers additional PDR for taller chargepoint installations and the installation of solar canopies.

Response attribution not verified

#66 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome recent updates to the Permitted Development Rights (PDR) for chargepoint installation in England and Wales. However, we note that restrictions remain around chargepoint height which are inhibiting deployment. We heard that the Scottish government’s relaxation of the height …

Response attribution not verified

#65 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s stated intention to provide guidance on the use of cross-pavement solutions and urge this to be published as soon as possible.

Response attribution not verified

#61 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: In allocating funds from the Rapid Charging Fund, the Government must ensure that these are distributed according to need across the Strategic Road Network. There is a risk that motorway services areas are prioritised over the wider strategic road network …

Response attribution not verified

#60 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Progress in this area must be accelerated urgently. In response to this report, the Government should confirm its revised deadline for meeting its motorway service EV STRATEGY: RAPID RECHARGE nEEDED 105 area chargepoint target. The Government should also periodically review …

Response attribution not verified

#59 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Consumers need confidence that they will be able to charge their electric vehicle, no matter how long their journey. Yet the Government has missed its target to have at least 6 high powered chargepoints at each motorway service area in …

Response attribution not verified

#54 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should gather comprehensive data on the availability of workplace chargepoints and consult on mandating workplaces with designated car parking spaces and more than a certain number of employees to install chargepoints using the grant.

Response attribution not verified

#53 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: In response to this report, the Government should set out its assessment of how the market-led rollout of workplace charging is progressing, and on what basis it is confident that this is sufficient to end direct subsidy through the Workplace …

Response attribution not verified

#49 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Destination charging, including at supermarkets, hotels and workplaces, is convenient for consumers and can reduce reliance on but not replace on- street residential charging.

Response attribution not verified

#48 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the scheme is extended for a further three years and that the Government refine its focus to target areas that are falling behind with chargepoint infrastructure delivery.

Response attribution not verified

#41 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The LEVI fund is welcome, but the slow pace of the rollout has significantly undermined progress and frustrated investment. The Government should set and communicate clear timelines and deadlines for the scheme and provide sufficient time for application preparation.

Response attribution not verified

#38 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Lower-powered, on-street AC charging involves cheaper installation for operators, less demand on the grid, and cheaper prices for consumers. Ensuring that the rollout of on-street charging proceeds rapidly, while taking account of broader issues such as pavement access and safety, …

Response attribution not verified

#37 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government introduce these new powers urgently and use them to direct local authorities in areas where there are fewer than 50 public chargepoints per 100,000 people to prepare EV strategies. This will help to ensure a …

Response attribution not verified

#36 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Progress in rolling out public charging infrastructure is highly variable across the UK, with rural areas particularly at risk of having insufficient infrastructure. The Government told us it was considering new powers to issue instructions to local authorities in areas …

Response attribution not verified

#35 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: A lack of confidence in the charging infrastructure is commonly cited as the most or second most significant obstacle for consumers alongside the upfront cost of EVs. Infrastructure must be rolled out ahead of demand to give consumers the confidence …

Response attribution not verified

#18 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The majority of EVs entering the second-hand market will be the higher value cars and SUVs favoured by corporate fleets and early adopters. As such, even at second-hand prices they are out of reach of most consumers.

Response attribution not verified

#17 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should explore targeted grants to incentivise the purchase of EVs with a view to facilitating a list price under an appropriate threshold. This would stimulate the affordable market, support the move to price parity and help counteract the …

Response attribution not verified

#16 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government’s stated aim is to support “mass ownership” of EVs. Yet unlike other major European markets, the Government has removed incentives to support consumers with upfront purchase costs.

Response attribution not verified