Only 15% of public electric car charging points are in rural areas as EV transition threatens to leave behind millions of drivers

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Just 15 per cent of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points installed in England are located in rural areas, according to a new report by the public spending watchdog.

An uneven distribution of devices across the country threatens to leave millions of drivers behind as the Government races towards its green targets, it warned.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has urged ministers to put 'greater focus' on ensuring more devices in rural locations and regions outside the South East.

It said chargepoint installation to date – which has largely been privately funded – has been led by the needs of early adopters of electric cars, resulting in around 44 per cent of public charging points being located in London and the South East.

By July, more than 64,600 public chargepoints were installed. It means the rollout is 'on track' to meet the 300,000 that the Department for Transport promised by 2030, the report stated.

But the watchdog warned the aim could be met without achieving 'the spread of chargepoints needed to support road transport across the whole country'.

Just 15% of public EV chargepoints in England are located in rural areas, according to a new report by the public spending watchdog this week

The NAO recommended that the Government should consider developing regional and urban/rural forecasts of demand for EV charging.

However, rural population statistics suggest the current volume of public charging point installations in these areas is relative to the number of people. 

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in 2020 there were around 9.7million people in England living in rural areas.

This represents 17 per cent of the population, DEFRA said.

Andersen, a UK manufacturer of home chargepoints, has also pointed to the fact that most properties in the countryside have provisions to charge an EV's batteries, unlike those living in cities.

Five in six rural homes also have off-street parking, it said, meaning the majority of drivers with EVs are able to fit their own homechargers powered by the domestic energy supply at tariffed prices.

In contrast, 60 per cent of properties in major cities and town centres are without driveways and garages, meaning EV owners in these areas are more reliant on a public network of devices. 

The National Audit Office (NAO) has urged ministers to put 'greater focus' on ensuring more devices in rural locations and regions outside the South East

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The watchdog's report also highlighted a lack of public charging solutions for EV owners during longer journeys. 

As of July, just 62 per cent of motorway service areas (MSAs) reported having at least six ultra-rapid chargepoints - those offering the fastest charging speeds to ensure drivers can continue on journeys quicker and reduce the likelihood of EV charging queues.

The previous Conservative government aimed for all MSAs to have that level of charging capacity by the end of 2023.

The NAO also warned that the charger rollout 'has not met the needs of drivers with disabilities'.

It said many devices or their surroundings 'have features which make them inaccessible to drivers with disabilities', such as being installed on kerbs, having a heavy cable, or having features or instructions too high or too low.

The report also highlighted a lack of public charging solutions for EV owners during longer journeys. As of July, just 62% of motorway services had at least six ultra-rapid chargepoints

By July, more than 64,600 public chargepoints were installed. It means the rollout is 'on track' to meet the 300,000 that the Department for Transport promised by 2030, the report stated

Improving public charging infrastructure is seen as vital to encouraging more drivers to switch to electric motoring.

The Government has committed to bring the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans forward from 2035 to 2030.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, 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.'

Improving public charging infrastructure is seen as vital to encouraging more drivers to switch to electric motoring

AA president Edmund King said EV charging point installation rates in northern rural areas needs to be accelerated to the same rate as the South. King is pictured here before embarking on the EV rally in Scotland in a Polestar2

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AA president Edmund King responded to the report on Thursday, saying: 'It is vital that communities are not left behind, and the NAO is right to point out that northern and rural areas are not seeing installations at the same rate as the South.

'Similarly, we must ensure that the major A-road network can provide regular charging points.

'To provide confidence to drivers now and in the future, it is crucial that all road users, including those with mobility issues, can use public chargers easily.'

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: 'Charging networks have already done a huge amount of work when it comes to installing the UK's much-needed charging infrastructure, but there's no doubt more needs to be done.

'Getting the necessary connections to the National Grid is vital to ensure no part of the country is left behind when it comes to being able to swiftly charge an EV.'

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We're making good progress in rolling out chargepoints across the UK, with over 72,000 public chargers now available – a near 40 per cent increase compared to December 2023.

'We're also providing over £2.3billion to support industry and drivers make the switch, and our measures are working, with EVs making up one in four of all cars sold this November.'