The Competition and Markets Authority has decided not to launch a full probe into competition in electric vehicle charging. It said that “while we consider there are some emerging issues in the EV charging sector, we do not consider a Market Investigation Reference (MIR) is necessary or appropriate to remedy those issues at this stage”.

The CMA opened a market study into the sector in December last year, saying there were emerging issues relating to investment and competition in the overall EV charging sector. It also highlighted issues around how consumers interact with off-street home charging and public charging.

It had specific concerns over en-route rapid or ultra-rapid charging, in particular at motorway service areas where “there are a number of emerging concerns about investment and competition, in particular due to high grid upgrade costs and difficulties for chargepoint operators to access service areas (including where there are exclusive contracts in place)”.

With regards to on-street local charging it raised concerns over limited investment to date, the role of local authorities and challenges they face in facilitating the installation of this infrastructure, as well as broader longer- term competition risks.

The CMA said it would put forward a package of measures to address these concerns in the summer, which could include recommendations to government, issuing guidance or taking further steps ourselves by using the CMA’s other powers.