It is a government priority that there should be a just transition for all in the journey towards net zero. An important aspect of that is to decarbonise transport, including by installing more charge points for electric vehicles. But this is challenging for the social housing sector. This Energy Saving Trust report presents findings baselining the situation.
The report, commissioned by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and delivered by Energy Saving Trust, provides a comprehensive baseline of the current state of electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI) in the social housing sector in England. It draws on 40 survey responses and 11 in-depth interviews with social housing providers (SHPs), covering all regions, housing types, and parking arrangements. Key findings:
- Low Priority: Nearly 80% of SHPs consider EVI a low or very low priority, especially for retrofitting existing stock. Newbuilds include EVI only to meet regulatory requirements.
- Minimal Provision: On average, SHPs have installed just 110 EV charge points across entire housing portfolios, with only marginal increases planned for 2025/26.
- Extreme Barriers: The most cited barriers are lack of capital finance and infrastructure constraints (e.g. grid capacity, parking).
- Major Barriers: Include national policy, regulatory, operational challenges, strategic uncertainty, and tenant-related issues (e.g. equity, demand).
- Skills Gaps: SHPs report extreme gaps in technical knowledge and strategic planning. Major gaps exist in grid understanding, compliance, procurement, and resident engagement.
- Funding Awareness: Awareness of existing grants is patchy; uptake is low. SHPs lack confidence in navigating funding schemes and often miss opportunities.
- Motability Link: Many disabled tenants in social housing use the Motability Scheme, which is transitioning to EVs. This creates an urgent need for accessible home charging.
Without substantial external support – especially a national mandate, capital and operational finance, guidance, and skills training – the social housing sector will not significantly expand EVI provision. A sequenced, systemic approach is needed to overcome barriers and build capability.