Half of UK councils still lack on-street EV charging

On-street EV charging gap remains across half of UK councils

Half of UK councils still lack on-street EV charging Half of UK councils still do not provide on-street electric vehicle charging, despite more than 90% now having at least one public charger in their area, new research has found. Research by Vauxhall, based on a Freedom of Information request covering 414 local authorities, found that 50% of councils reported having no on-street chargers. The proportion providing on-street charging has increased from 31% in 2023 to 39% this year, showing progress but also highlighting the gaps that remain for drivers without private parking. On-street charging remains a challenge Access to residential charging is particularly important for drivers who park on the street and cannot charge an electric car or van at home. Vauxhall said 40% of drivers do not have access to a driveway, meaning many are more dependent on public charging infrastructure. The research found that 78 councils installed at least one on-street charger during 2025, making it the year when installations peaked. However, there are still significant differences between areas, with more than 70% of the UK's on-street chargers installed by the end of 2025 located in London. Around 32% of councils now have a published strategy covering on-street residential charging, while 46% have a dedicated EV charging policy officer. The wider public charging network has also continued to grow. Separate Zapmap figures cited by Fleet News show that more than 50,000 public charging points have been added since the end of 2023. On-street chargers now account for 32% of the UK's public charging network and made up more than 55% of new installations during 2025. Vauxhall launched its Electric Streets of Britain campaign in 2023, allowing drivers to register demand for charging infrastructure near their homes. More than 13,000 streets have since been registered through the campaign, with information shared with charging providers including Char.gy, Connected Kerb and Kerbo Charge. Coventry was highlighted as an example, with more than 1,856 public charging sockets serving over 9,000 registered users. Vauxhall said more than 900 Connected Kerb sockets had been installed within a 15-minute walk of postcodes registered through its campaign. Eurig Druce, Vauxhall managing director and Stellantis UK group managing director, said continued investment in charging infrastructure was essential to giving drivers confidence to switch to electric vehicles. He also said the focus needed to be on ensuring chargers were installed in locations that best met motorists' needs, particularly households without driveways. For drivers, the figures highlight how access to suitable parking and charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as more motorists consider electric vehicles. The research suggests that while the public charging network is expanding, on-street provision remains uneven across the UK.