The spending watchdog said plans to install 300,000 electric vehicle charging points across the UK by 2030 would mean that 300,000 electric vehicle charging points would be installed across the UK between the well-connected areas of London and the south-east and the rest of the country. There is a risk of creating “regional disparities.”
The National Audit Office has found that while the government is on track to meet its target of installing 300,000 charging points by 2030, large parts of the country are falling short.
The paper warned that London has more charging points installed per person than the rest of the UK. Overall, 44% of public charging points are located in London and the South East, compared to just 15% in rural England, according to the NAO.
NAO director Gareth Davies said the government's 2030 target “looks achievable” but “there is still work to be done to ensure adequate coverage in all parts of the country”. spoke.
The watchdog said 100,000 chargers were due to be installed under a £450 million government program set up to help local authorities roll out charging points, but local authorities' plans He said he was facing delays because the formulation took longer than the government expected.
Additionally, the NAO said rollout was being hampered because it was “unnecessarily time consuming and costly” for charging point operators to obtain planning permission and grid connections.
The NAO said the UK should prioritize rolling out enough public charging stations, particularly in key locations for long-distance journeys, so drivers can feel confident switching to EVs.
“Without government intervention, this may not happen at the pace or where it is needed,” the NAO warned.
After newsletter promotion
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, said issues with planning permission and grid connections were “obstacles to further progress”.
“If the government is serious about promoting the uptake of electric vehicles, it needs to ensure its citizens have access to reliable, convenient and accessible charging points,” he said.
The government has been contacted for comment.
