IPPR has reacted to the National Audit
Office report on the rollout of public EV charging points (to be
published at 0001 December 13).
Dr Maya Singer-Hobbs,
senior research fellow in IPPR's energy, climate and
infrastructure team, said:
“An extensive public charging network is key to supporting people
to make the shift to electric vehicles. This new report shows
significant progress has been made in the rollout of public
chargers, and should provide many with the confidence to make
their next vehicle an electric one.
“However, behind the headline figure, this report reveals the
risk that some people and places are being left behind in being
able to access a suitable public charger. Despite the Department
for Transport creating standards for charge-point accessibility,
it hasn't made these compulsory, meaning that much of current
public charging network is not accessible to drivers with
disabilities.
“Similarly, charger coverage in rural communities is low, making
it harder for people to adopt the use of EVs. Government must
focus its resources in filling those gaps and mandating
accessibility standards.
“IPPR's research demonstrates that the public support in
principle the move to electric vehicles. Many people who hesitate
to buy one do so because of worries that they are
impractical – a concern which has unfortunately been fuelled
by misinformation campaigns. The government should dispel these
myths through a national public communication plan and set out a
cast iron guarantee that affordable, accessible public chargers
will soon be easily available in many more areas.”
