The so-called "two-tier system" means renters and flat-dwellers pay more to charge electric vehicles than homeowners with driveways.
The UK government has confirmed plans to introduce permitted development rights for on-street EV charging and cross-pavement solutions, aiming to address this disparity.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced the measures on 21 April as part of a broader effort to accelerate electrification and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
These reforms follow fuel price shocks linked to conflict in the Middle East, which have highlighted the cost benefits of home charging for some, while exposing barriers for households without off-street parking.
Vicky Edmonds, chief executive of EVA England, described the new permitted development rights as "a major breakthrough for the millions without driveways who currently face a two-tier system of higher costs and fewer options."
She noted that about half of drivers without off-street parking report paying more to run an EV than they did with their previous petrol or diesel vehicle.
"This is an area EVA England has consistently highlighted for reform, so it's encouraging to see progress," Edmonds said.
The announcement builds on reforms from May 2025 that removed planning permission requirements for most standalone chargers and substations in England.
A government consultation on extending permitted development rights for EV charging infrastructure ran from November 2025 to January 2026, with industry bodies like Energy UK supporting the changes to ease pressure on local planning authorities and speed up deployment toward the government's target of 300,000 chargepoints by 2030.
EV sales reached a record high in March, with 86,120 battery EVs registered and a 24.2% market share, marking the strongest month for EV registrations. However, this is still below the 33% target, prompting calls from some industry leaders for a review of the mandate.
Gurjeet Grewal, CEO of Octopus EV, said fuel price shocks had "turbocharged interest in EVs," but millions of renters and flat-dwellers still lack access to affordable home charging.
"Make charging simple and affordable, and you unlock a huge new wave of drivers ready to switch," he said.
The cost gap between home and public charging remains significant. Home chargers on off-peak tariffs can cost as little as 7p per kilowatt-hour, making a full charge for a typical 60kWh EV about £4.20. In contrast, public rapid charging averages 76p per kWh, pushing the same charge over £45. This difference is partly due to VAT, which is 5% for domestic electricity but 20% for public charging.
Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK, welcomed the government's measures but noted that millions will still rely on public charging, "which is more expensive than it needs to be."
She called for VAT equalisation and action on standing charges to address what she described as the "charging divide."
Read added that resolving the public charging cost issue "is within the government's gift" and could help meet EV sales quotas by tapping into rising demand.
The government also confirmed it will maintain its 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars, alongside continued expansion of charging infrastructure.
In April 2025, the government allocated £63 million for EV charging infrastructure, while separate grant schemes for renters, landlords, and businesses were extended until March 2027 and increased from £350 to £500 per socket from April 2026.
The government expects to consult on implementation details for the permitted development rights later this year, with the focus now on delivering reforms "in a way that genuinely works for drivers," according to Edmonds.
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