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A new policy position has been published, setting out how electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure should be planned and delivered across local authority areas, as EV adoption accelerates across the UK.

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) says widespread EV adoption depends on drivers being able to charge their vehicles in the right places, at the right times and at a fair cost - and calls on the government to take coordinated national action to make that happen.

With over 1.9 million fully electric vehicles now on UK roads and EVs accounting for 23.4% of new car registrations in 2025, momentum is building. However, ADEPT warns that without equitable, reliable and affordable charging infrastructure, this progress is at risk of stalling, leaving millions of households behind and the UK short of its legally binding net zero target by 2050.

The paper highlights that approximately one-third of UK households - around 8 to 9 million - lack access to off-street parking, making them entirely dependent on public charging. Yet public charge points can cost significantly more than home charging, in some cases more than three times as much. This is compounded by the 20% VAT applied to public charging, compared to just 5% on domestic electricity.

The policy position sets out a series of direct asks of government, including:

• A coordinated national approach to on-street residential charging, with consistent standards across local authorities and more equitable costs for those without off-street parking.
• Adequate long-term funding and resources for local authorities, including staffing and systems to plan, monitor and manage EV charging provision.
• A national plan for rapid charging hubs on the major and strategic road network, following the withdrawal of the Rapid Charging Fund.
• Reduction or alignment of VAT on electricity supplied at public charge points, to address the cost disparity between home and public charging.
• A review of Distribution Network Operator charging arrangements for charge point operators, to help reduce the unit cost of public EV charging.
• Development of a national EV charge point payment platform - similar to the National Parking Platform - to enable seamless access and payment across all operators.
• Introduction of a pay-per-mile charging mechanism for EVs, with revenues directed towards highway maintenance and transport infrastructure investment.

Ann Carruthers, Past President of ADEPT and former Chair of ADEPT’s Transport & Connectivity Board said: "Electric vehicles are a cornerstone of the UK's decarbonisation strategy, but the transition will only succeed if drivers can charge their vehicles reliably, affordably and in the right places. Local authorities are at the heart of delivering this and they need the funding, powers and consistency to do it properly."

The full policy position is available to download here: www.adeptnet.org.uk/supporting-transition-electric-vehicles