The number of UK councils fully compliant with national public EV charging standards has increased significantly, according to research by Drax Electric Vehicles.
It said that 67% of councils that responded to its Freedom of Information requests reported full compliance with the Public Charge Point Regulations (PCPR) 2023, up from 47% in 2024, while the proportion admitting complete non-compliance fell from 21% to 6%.
The standards require chargers to offer contactless payment, maintain 99% reliability for rapid units, provide a 24/7 helpline and support open data access via OCPI. From November 2025, further measures come into effect, including roaming interoperability and expanded open data sharing, designed to make cross-network charging simpler for drivers.
Drax Electric Vehicles director of energy services Adam Hall said: “This is the second year in a row we’ve conducted this analysis and I’m pleased to see genuine progress in modernising public charging.
“Councils have responded quickly to new requirements, which is great news for fleets that depend on dependable, accessible infrastructure, as well as everyday drivers. But the next regulatory phase will test consistency further.
“Ongoing collaboration between councils, government and private partners will be vital to maintain that progress.”
