Read: Electric cars: ‘Huge challenge’ to switch all new cars to zero emissions by 2035

The government is facing a “huge challenge” to switch all new cars to zero-emission models in the next 14 years because of high costs and a shortage of roadside chargers, according to MPs.

In a report published today, the public accounts committee said a government drive to phase out new petrol and diesel cars risked falling short without additional support.

The cross-party group said it was "not convinced" that the government was doing enough to provide sufficient roadside charging points for drivers to power up electric cars. The issue was particularly pressing for drivers in rural areas and those without off-road parking at home, MPs said.

Concerns were also raised about the high upfront cost of purchasing pure electric models. The report said MPs were “not persuaded that the upfront costs are low enough for many people”, with some models costing up to £10,000 more than petrol or diesel equivalents. Only 13 electric cars on the market cost less than £30,000, the report said.

Electric cars are far cheaper to run because of the absence of fuel costs and vehicle tax. However, the “sticker price” is still seen as a large driver of sales, with high costs repeatedly being cited as the biggest barrier to the adoption of electric vehicles.

Read the full story on The Times.

Harness the energy transition is one of the Levelling Up Goals, launched to set out clear objectives for the UK's Levelling Up challenge in the wake of Covid-19.