Constrained budgets and slow access to government funding for local authorities are the biggest barriers to installing public electric vehicle (EV) charge points, according to a new national survey.
The research, in ‘Accelerating the UK’s EV Future’ from chargepoint operator Believ, was based on responses from 101 local authorities across England, Wales and Scotland. It found 75% citing pressure on council budgets as their main obstacle to expanding public EV charging.
Nearly two thirds (63%) said central government funding is a barrier, and 42% said that logistical and delivery challenges, including grid capacity and site constraints, were also holding projects back.
It found that progress was being hampered by complex funding processes, administrative delays and infrastructure constraints.
Top barriers to EV charge point installation are:
- Budgetary issues (council budgets): 75%
- Budgetary issues (government funding): 63%
- Logistical/delivery challenges: 42%
- Low EV ownership/local demand: 31%
- Public sector procurement challenges: 17%
- Lack of siting guidance: 16%
- Regulatory constraints: 12%
- Resident reticence: 11%
Resourcing was cited as a key reason causing local council budget pressures. It said that local authorities will be “greatly anticipating” the rollout of the £200 million additional capability funding, announced in the Autumn 2025 Budget.
When asked to comment on the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding, 71% of councils overall and more than three quarters (78%) of rural and semi-rural councils stated a preference for more direct and targeted access to funds, while 43% want greater local say in budget decisions.
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said:
“The report is the only piece of research of its kind, talking to more than a quarter of local authorities, directly to the councillors responsible for the EV charging rollout. And as such, we must act on the results.
“The clear and urgent priorities of unlocking funding, streamlining processes, expanding and signposting guidance must be addressed. The responsibility for this lies in tandem with the charging industry and government – with the right partnerships, the UK can build an EV charging network that works for everyone.”
Image courtesy of Believ
