The UK electric vehicle network could face significant trouble after a new report highlighted major shortcomings in the charging infrastructure.
The report published today by the Public Accounts Committee revealed severe geographical disparities in charge point distribution, with 43 per cent concentrated in London and the South East.
The report also criticised delays in infrastructure programmes and raised concerns about accessibility for disabled drivers.
The Committee further highlighted the VAT disparity between public charging (20 per cent) and home charging (five per cent), which disadvantages those without off-street parking.
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The Public Accounts Committee found several failings with the UK electric vehicle infrastructure
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The findings come as the UK continues its transition towards an electric-only transport model by 2035 as part of its ambitious Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. The report revealed that around 75,000 public charging points have been installed already, with the amount on track to reach the 300,000 minimum needed by 2030.
However, the distribution remains highly uneven across the nation, with only 15 per cent of England’s charge points installed in rural areas.
The Committee noted that different areas have varying requirements based on factors such as off-street parking availability and seasonal tourist influxes.
The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority warned that operators may still focus on commercially viable areas, potentially leaving rural communities underserved. The £450million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure programme aims to support local authorities in installing charge points where they are most needed.
Despite providing both capital funding and capability support, the programme has faced significant delays. By October 2024, only 10 out of 78 projects had been approved for delivery against a March 2025 deadline.
The Committee warned that these delays mean many local authorities will be procuring simultaneously, risking market capacity issues. To address this, the Department for Transport has extended capability funding beyond March 2025 to continue supporting local authorities through the process.
The report also took issue with the slow rollout of ultra-rapid charging at motorway service areas, which are vital for driver confidence. The DfT said every motorway service area should have at least six ultra-rapid charge points by the end of 2023. However, by January 2025, only 80 out of 114 motorway service areas had met this target.
The committee also highlighted that the £950million Rapid Charging Fund, announced in 2020 to upgrade electricity connections, has yet to issue any funding.
The committee also warned that the VAT disparity between public and home charging creates a significant cost barrier for many drivers, with those relying solely on public charging points paying up to three times more than those charging at home.
This particularly affects those without access to off-street parking, who are often from less affluent backgrounds. However, the DfT acknowledged that this disparity is “probably the single biggest challenge to the electric vehicle transition in the UK.”
By 2035, around 1.35 million drivers with disabilities will depend on public charge points, yet the report found that none are fully compliant with accessibility standards.
Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge and EVUK advisory board member, said: “The PAC report confirms what every EV driver knows. We need more chargers, faster rollout, cheaper electricity costs, and cutting the VAT on public charging.”
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Meanwhile, Dr. Andy Palmer, Founder and CEO of Palmer Energy, criticised the report for missing “two vital points.”
He highlighted the importance of integrating home and workplace charging with public infrastructure. Palmer also noted the need for commercial battery energy storage technology to regulate electricity costs.
“Good progress is being made with public charging deployment, but geographic anomalies exist and the disparity of VAT between public and private charging is a major problem,” he said. Palmer stressed that EV adoption faces two key barriers: high purchase prices and high running costs.
