The Government announced that public charging stations across the UK increased by nearly 25% over the past year, with 15,979 new chargers added since October 2024.
According to data from the Department for Transport and Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, this represents a 23% year-on-year increase in charging infrastructure. The figures were released on October 30.
The UK now has 86,021 publicly accessible chargers nationwide. That’s four times more than three years ago.
More than 17,000 of these units are rapid or ultra-rapid chargers – the kind that get drivers back on the road fastest. These high-speed units cut charging times significantly compared to standard chargers.
The expansion rate means one new charger has been installed every 33 minutes for the past 12 months.
Industry Investment Driving Growth
Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK, emphasized the private sector’s role in this expansion.
“The EV charging industry is pulling out all the stops to help drivers go electric, investing billions of private capital into high-quality charging – supporting the government’s ambitions for growth and decarbonisation in the process.”
Read highlighted that most EV drivers rely on public networks. Many will depend entirely on them as home charging isn’t always an option.
“That means we need the right mix of affordable and easy to access charging at home and at work, on-street, en-route and at destinations to ensure everyone can make the switch,” she said.
Strategic Network Coverage Expands
The data shows more than 6,000 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers now sit within one mile of England’s Strategic Road Network. This covers motorways and major A-roads – the routes drivers use for longer journeys.
Regional gaps in charging coverage are starting to close. Areas outside London saw their networks grow by 23.4%, slightly outpacing London’s 21.7% growth rate.
Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, and East of England all experienced notable rapid growth. Wales also saw significant expansion.
London still has the highest concentration of chargers overall, but other regions are catching up faster.
Keir Mather, Minister for Decarbonisation, connected the infrastructure growth to government incentives.
“There’s never been a better time to go electric – chargepoints are up 23% in a year, and we’re helping drivers save with discounts of up to £3,750 on new electric cars, all part of our Plan for Change.”
The government is also working to remove barriers for renters and people without driveways. New regulations aim to make home charging more accessible and affordable for these groups.
“We’re cutting red tape so renters and those without driveways can access affordable home charging, making it easier and cheaper for everyone to make the switch,” Mather added.
The charging network expansion comes as EV sales continue growing across the UK, with drivers increasingly confident about making longer journeys in electric vehicles.
