Overview

• The National Audit Office reports that 44% of public EV chargers are concentrated in London and the South East, with only 15% located in rural areas across England.
• The UK is on pace to meet its goal of installing 300,000 public EV chargers by 2030, with over 72,000 currently installed, but regional disparities persist.
• Barriers such as slow planning permissions and costly grid connections are hindering the rollout in underserved areas, particularly rural and northern regions.
• Disabled drivers face accessibility issues as many chargers are poorly designed, with features like high kerbs, heavy cables, and improperly placed instructions creating obstacles.
• The government is urged to prioritize equitable charger distribution and enforce accessibility standards to ensure all communities can transition to electric vehicles effectively.