The UK is on track to reach 300,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints by 2030, the national public spending watchdog has found.
But rollout is being hindered because it is too slow and expensive for operators to get planning permission and electricity grid connections, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO).
The watchdog also warned that regional inequalities must be addressed.
While 64,632 chargepoints had been installed as of July 2024, almost half (44%) were in London and the South East, and only 15% of chargepoints in England were in rural areas.
The NAO report also warns that drivers with disabilities have been ‘left behind’ because of the inaccessibility of chargepoints and their surrounding environments.
The watchdog suggested councils may need government support beyond the current end date for the local electric vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) programme, since councils had taken longer than expected to develop chargepoint plans.
The head of the NAO, Gareth Davies, said: ‘Government’s estimate of the 300,000 public electric vehicle chargepoints needed by 2030 appears achievable, although there is more to do to ensure adequate coverage in all parts of the country.
‘Government is using regulation to improve the user experience of public chargepoints and needs to address access for people with disabilities.’
