More than 90% of the UK’s councils have at least one public charger installed in their area, but half still don’t offer public on-street charging.
New research shows a marked increase in the number of local authorities with on-street charging but also highlights a clear need for more progress to support drivers without access to off-street parking.
The research by Vauxhall also found a growing number of councils had published strategies for on-street infrastructure and a dedicated policy officer for EV charging, but the majority still lack both.
To mark its Electric Streets of Britain campaign entering its fourth year, the UK car maker sent a Freedom of Information request to 414 local councils asking for information about their on-street charging strategy.
Of those that responded, 32% now have a published strategy for on-street residential charging, while 46% have a dedicated policy officer for EV charging – a 15% increase compared with 2023.
More than 90% said that they had at least one public charger in their constituency, but only 39% reported that they provide on-street charging. While that is an increase from the 31% in 2023, it leaves plenty of room for improvement. A full 50% said they did not provide any on-street infrastructure, while the remaining 11% didn’t indicate whether they did or did not.
Roll-out of public on-street charging has accelerated over the past year as more authorities receive funding under the LEVI scheme and sign deals with infrastructure providers such as Connect Kerb, Char.gy and Believ.
Currently, 32% of the UK’s public charging network is made up of on-street chargers, but 2025 saw encouraging signs for those without access to private charging, with 55% of new installs being on-street.
The report also revealed a clear divide in the roll-out of on-street charging, with more than 70% of on-street chargers concentrated in London, where infrastructure roll-out is far more advanced than other parts of the country.
Eurig Druce, Vauxhall managing director, said: “The continued roll-out of EV charging infrastructure is essential to giving drivers the confidence to make the switch to electric. It’s encouraging to see that more than 90% of UK councils now have at least one public charger in their area, but the focus must now be on ensuring the right chargers are installed in the right places to best meet the needs of motorists.”
Electric Streets of Britain was set up to allow drivers without off-street parking to register their area’s need for on-street public infrastructure. So far, more than 13,000 streets have been added to its register.
Druce added: “For the millions of households without access to off-street parking, on-street charging remains critical. By working together across local government, charging providers and industry, we can ensure infrastructure is delivered where it will have the greatest impact, making electric vehicle ownership practical and accessible for more drivers across the UK.”
