The Department for Transport confirmed the UK has reached 116,052 public EV charging devices nationwide – significantly outpacing the estimated 60,800 petrol pumps across the country.
Infrastructure Numbers Tell New Story
The charging network now provides approximately one charger for every 11 electric vehicles on UK roads. That’s a sharp contrast to traditional fuel infrastructure, which serves roughly 570 petrol and diesel cars per pump.
The DfT’s petrol pump estimate comes from Petrol Retailers Association and RAC Foundation data. Officials calculated the figure by multiplying 8,329 petrol stations by an average of 7.3 refuelling positions each.
Zapmap reported 677 new public charge points were installed in January alone.
The 116,052 figure doesn’t include home charging installations – suggesting actual charging capacity is considerably higher. Electric vehicles captured almost a quarter of new car sales last year, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders projecting further growth despite a sluggish January.
Government Backing Expansion
The Government increased its Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant from £350 to £500 for qualifying households and businesses. The move supports continued infrastructure development as EV adoption accelerates.
Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, called the milestone significant progress.
“This milestone shows we’re genuinely moving in the right direction and building the charging network that drivers need to make the switch to electric with confidence. But we shouldn’t stop here. Ensuring reliable, affordable and convenient charging where people live, work and travel is key to helping even more drivers make the transition smoothly.”
Regional Disparities Remain Challenge
EVA England research reveals a ‘postcode lottery’ for charging access across regions. London and southern areas enjoy the best public charger availability.
The ‘Northern Five’ cities face more limited options:
- Liverpool
- Leeds
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Sheffield
The disparity highlights infrastructure gaps that could affect EV adoption rates in northern England. While overall numbers show progress, ensuring equitable access remains crucial for nationwide electric vehicle transition.
Refuelling time differences between petrol and electric vehicles continue to influence driver behavior – though charging speeds keep improving across newer installations.
