Report

Decreasing transport poverty in Europe through public EV chargepoints

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the EU’s EV landscape, key challenges and policy changes.

This briefing examines the EU’s EV landscape, key challenges, and policy changes to ensure equitable access to this transformative tech.

KEY POINTS

Transport poverty affects households and businesses when adequate transport is not available, accessible, or affordable, constraining their mobility and harming the economy.

EVs can decrease transport poverty in many countries in the EU as they already cost less than internal combustion engines over a vehicle’s lifetime in most member states.

Public chargepoint deployment rates are lower than what ACEA research claims is needed by 2030, impeding EV take-up.

Eastern member states are more vulnerable to transport poverty.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Interventions by the public sector are necessary to spark private sector chargepoint investments in the EU areas with high transport poverty.

Norway funds EV infrastructure through investments that pay themselves off within 3 years, at which point chargepoints become revenue generators.

France introduced EV leasing subsidies for households and businesses in areas with transport poverty which increase chargepoint profitability.

Regulations that protect residents’ “right to plug” are a cost-effective way to increase the appeal of EVs for those who do not own their home.