UK Inquiry Tracker

Public charge points for electric vehicles

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 29 Nov 2024 Closed: 16 May 2025 Parliament page

The UK’s domestic transport sector was responsible for almost 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. To combat this, the Government has a manifesto commitment to end the sale on new combustion-only (petrol or diesel) vehicles by 2030. To support this transition, an estimated 300,000 Electric Vehicle (EV) public charging … Read more The UK’s domestic transport sector was responsible for almost 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. To combat this, the Government has a manifesto commitment to end the sale on new combustion-only (petrol or diesel) vehicles by 2030. To support this transition, an estimated 300,000 Electric Vehicle (EV) public charging points will need to be installed in the same time frame. The National Audit Office (NAO) recently launched an investigation into how successful the Government has been in identifying and mitigating the challenges likely to impede a successful rollout of charging infrastructure. They will also be examining if the Department for Transport (DfT) is likely to achieve value for money in the rollout. In 2021, the Committee reported on the challenges likely to prevent the Government from reaching its target of phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. The Committee did not believe that the Government had a sufficient strategy to ensure all EV owners would have easy access to charging points, particularly those without access to off-street parking. Following the Committee’s report, the Department for Transport released their UK electric vehicle infrastructure strategy which outlined their strategy to address this issue. Based on the NAO’s work, the Committee will take evidence from senior officials from the Department for Transport, with likely focuses including: If the Department has a strategy to address the geographical disparities in the availability of EV charging points; If sufficient funds are available to support local authorities to install public charging stations and; The accessibility of public charging infrastructure Please note the Committee is unable to help with individual cases. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. The deadline date for submitting evidence will be updated on this page once confirmed. Show less

5 Recommendations

26 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

3 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 7 events

4 Sep
2025

Correspondence

Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the updated response on the Treasury Minute response on the…

1 Jul
2025

Correspondence

Letter to the Interim Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the Treasury Minute Response on PAC's 14th Report of …

16 May
2025

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fourteenth report from Session 2024-25

12 Mar
2025

Report published

14th Report - Public charge points for electric vehicles

11 Feb
2025

Correspondence

Letter from the Second Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport relating to the oral evidence session held on 20 January 2025, …

20 Jan
2025

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

20 Jan
2025

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

20 Jan 2025

View on parliament.uk

Jo Shanmugalingam · Department for Transport Nick Shaw · Office for Zero Emission Vehicles Richard Bruce CBE · Office for Zero Emission Vehicles Directorate

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
14th Report - Public charge points for electric vehicles	HC 512	12 Mar 2025	31	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results

17 Conclusion Not Addressed

14th Report - Public charge points…

Rapid Charging Fund unspent after five years, creating industry investment uncertainty

In 2020 the Department announced the rapid charging fund, intended to future proof electricity capacity on the strategic road network in the longer term, by part–funding the capital costs of upgraded grid connections. However, nearly five years after its announcement, … Read more

Government Response

The government's response is identical to the previous item and focuses on the general rollout of chargepoints and addressing distribution gaps, rather than providing the requested clear direction on the status and future of the £950 million Rapid Charging Fund.

HM Treasury

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19 Conclusion Not Addressed

14th Report - Public charge points…

Electricity grid connection processes remain unfit for purpose, delaying charge point rollout

As with motorway service areas, many of these locations are limited by the strength of the local electricity network and the ability to enhance and connect to it. The Government recognises that the processes to receive electricity grid connections are … Read more

Government Response

The government response outlines its vision for EV charging, and discusses efforts related to traffic regulation orders and OZEV's role in major road schemes. However, it does not address the specific concerns raised about electricity grid connection challenges and inconsistent processes with network operators.

HM Treasury

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27 Conclusion Not Addressed

14th Report - Public charge points…

Cost disparity for public charging disproportionately impacts demographic groups without off-street parking

The Department acknowledged that there are certain demographic groups who are less likely to have off street parking, meaning that people may pay more to drive electric vehicles due to the type of home they live in.49 For example, the … Read more

Government Response

The government details general monitoring of the Public Charge Point Regulations and charging costs, but does not specifically commit to monitoring how cost disparity impacts different demographic groups, which was the core issue highlighted in the committee's observation.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 5 classified

Accepted 19

Accepted in Part 1

Acknowledged 4

Deferred 4

Not Addressed 3

Total 5 recs + 26 conclusions

Correspondence 3 letters

4 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the updated response on the Treasury Minute response on the 14th Report of Session 2024-25, Public charge points for electric vehicles, 14 July 2025

Parliament page

1 Jul 2025 From committee Letter to the Interim Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the Treasury Minute Response on PAC's 14th Report of Session 2024-25, Public charge points for electric vehicles, 30 June 2025

Parliament page

11 Feb 2025 To committee Letter from the Second Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport relating to the oral evidence session held on 20 January 2025, follow up on potential fire risk of electric vehicles, 31 January 2025

Parliament page