Half of local councils in the United Kingdom are failing to provide any residential street chargers for electric vehicle (EV) owners who do not have private driveways, according to new research. This situation persists even as the number of EVs on UK roads surpasses 2.18 million and charging infrastructure expands.
The findings stem from a Freedom of Information request conducted by Vauxhall, which also indicated that 40 percent of UK drivers live in properties without off-street parking. While the percentage of councils offering on-street charging has risen to 39 percent from 31 percent in 2023, a significant portion of local authorities still lack these essential facilities for a substantial segment of EV owners.
Expanding Public Charging Network
Overall, the UK's public EV charging network has seen considerable growth. Figures from the public charging app Zapmap show that over 50,000 public charging points were added between the end of 2023 and September 2026, bringing the total to just over 122,000. This equates to approximately 18 vehicles per public charger.
Despite this expansion, a significant portion of these chargers are not located in residential areas. Vauxhall's research highlights that on-street chargers now constitute 32 percent of the UK's public charging network. Encouragingly, in 2025, over 55 percent of new charging point installations were on-street, and 78 councils installed at least one on-street charger during that year. However, a considerable regional disparity exists, with over 70 percent of these on-street chargers installed up to the end of 2025 located in London alone.
Addressing the Charging Gap
To address the needs of drivers without driveways, Vauxhall's 'Electric Streets of Britain' initiative, launched in 2023, aims to support practical EV charging solutions. Eurig Druce, Vauxhall managing director, emphasized the importance of accessible charging for EV adoption.
"It's encouraging to see that more than 90 percent 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," Druce stated. "For the millions of households without access to off-street parking, on-street charging remains critical."
Local authorities are increasingly recognizing the need for dedicated EV charging strategies. Thirty-two percent of councils now have a published strategy for on-street residential charging, and 46 percent have a dedicated policy officer for EV charging, a notable increase from 31 percent in 2023.
Government grants and local authority schemes have supported the development of on-street charging infrastructure, though some dedicated funding is set to expire in March. The continued expansion and equitable distribution of on-street charging points are considered vital for ensuring that the UK's transition to electric vehicles is inclusive for all drivers.