London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2025

Concerns Raised Over UK Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Rollout

Concerns Raised Over UK Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Rollout

Parliamentary committee highlights delays, accessibility issues, and regional disparities in electric vehicle charging points.
The rollout of electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the United Kingdom has been deemed 'patchy' and running behind schedule, according to a report from the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The report emphasized that the availability of charging points necessary to facilitate a transition to EVs is still insufficient, particularly along major roadways in the country.

The PAC warned that the current state of EV charging infrastructure could exacerbate inequalities, notably impacting disabled drivers and those reliant on public charging.

Individuals who cannot charge at home, such as residents of apartments or houses without off-street parking, face higher costs associated with public chargers, which are subject to a 20% VAT rate compared to 5% for domestic energy supplies.

The report indicated that while the government is working towards a target of 300,000 charging points by 2030, there are significant regional disparities.

Approximately 43% of existing public chargers are concentrated in south-east England and London.

This uneven distribution raises concerns among MPs, who noted that the rollout may neglect the needs of drivers outside these areas.

Particularly alarming is the finding that none of the current charge points in the UK meet the established accessibility standards formulated by the Department for Transport (DfT) in conjunction with the Motability Foundation.

This absence of compliance is discouraging for many disabled drivers from switching to electric vehicles.

Additionally, the report highlighted that one-third of motorway service areas do not meet the DfT's target of having a minimum of six ultra-rapid chargers by 2023.

The PAC also noted significant delays in the government’s initiative to fund local authorities for installing charging points in areas identified as needing them most.

Of the 78 proposed projects, only 10 have been approved for delivery by the October 2024 target, which lags behind a March 2025 deadline.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the PAC, stressed the importance of addressing these delays to ensure equitable access to EV charging infrastructure.

He remarked on the necessity for drivers to have confidence in using EVs without the fear of running out of charge.

The report also pointed to data highlighting that a quarter of England’s critical A-roads exhibit a lack of electric car charging availability, indicating significant gaps in the necessary infrastructure for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

In response to the findings, a spokesperson from the DfT defended the government’s progress, stating that there are over 74,000 public chargers currently installed, with additional units being added to the network at an estimated rate of one every 28 minutes.

The spokesperson noted a 53% increase in charging points near the strategic road network and a 45% rise in rural charging infrastructure.

The DfT’s statement also addressed the concerns regarding accessibility, asserting the government's commitment to ensuring that all EV drivers, particularly those with disabilities, have access to adequately equipped charging points.

The department continues to collaborate with industry stakeholders to promote accessible EV charging standards.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×