The Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Committee says that any delay by the Government in subsidising rural charge points “will only prolong range anxiety” among potential electric vehicle motorists and impede development of the market.

It also describes the Government’s target for zero emission vehicles as “vague and unambitious” and calls for the ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be brought forward by eight years to 2032.

The committee says that local authorities who have been less successful in accessing funding for electric vehicle infrastructure need more support to ensure charge points are deployed more evenly across regions.

It also says there is a “mismatch between the Government’s ambition to develop national charging infrastructure and its decision to leave delivery largely to local authorities and private actors”.

The committee adds that Government’s focus on promoting on-street charge points “is not working” and calls for support for alternative solutions such as local charging hubs “so that motorists without off-street parking do not remain at a disadvantage”.

It welcomes amendments to the National Policy Planning Framework that encourage charge points at new developments and in local parking standards. But it recommends that these be made more specific, setting a minimum number of charge points that should be included in both residential and non residential developments.

Committee chair Rachel Reeves said: “Electric vehicles are increasingly popular, and present exciting opportunities for the UK to develop an internationally competitive EV industry and reduce our carbon emissions. But for all the rhetoric of the UK becoming a world leader in EVs, the reality is that the Government’s deeds do not match the ambitions of their words.”

The National Infrastructure Commission said the Committee is right to highlight the need for action on charging points, so as not to dampen demand for electric vehicles.

A spokesman said: “Through our National Infrastructure Assessment we recommend the Government works with Ofgem and local authorities to create a truly national, visible charging network and ensure people can be confident they will be able to charge their cars during or at the end of their journey, wherever in the country that is.”

Greenpeace clean air campaigner Morten Thaysen said in response to the call for the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles to be brought forward: “A growing chorus of advisers in climate, energy and industry are saying a phase out date of 2040 is too late. We need 100% electric car and van sales by 2030 if the Government is serious about meeting its obligations under the Paris agreement."

A Government spokesman said the UK was one of the first major economies to announce an end to the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040, adding that there are nearly 168,000 ultra low emission vehicles on UK roads and around 14,500 public charge points, of which at least 1300 are rapid devices.

The spokesman added: “We have outlined measures to bring forward a major uplift in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, paving the way for the widespread adoption of ultra low emission vehicles.”

(Photograph: Noya Fields and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)