The UK’s EV charging infrastructure had a record year of growth in 2024, official figures have confirmed.
The number of charge points installed in the UK over the course of the calendar year was the highest annual level seen on record, with tens of thousands of new chargers added as the Government and industry pushes to alleviate charging anxiety amongst EV drivers.
The latest published figures by charge point mapping service ZapMap shows more than 20,000 new devices were installed throughout last year, bringing the total number of public chargers to 73,699.
This represents a year-on-year increase of 38 per cent.
In more good news to EV drivers, it is the fastest device types that have seen particularly high growth; ultra-rapid (150kW+) devices have seen an 83 per cent increase since the end of 2023, the figures reveal.
The news of the UK’s charging boom comes after the National Audit Office said that the number of public charge points was on track to meet Government target of 300,000 devices by 2030.
The number of charge points installed in the UK over the course of 2024 was the highest annual level seen, with 20,000 new chargers added
The growth in ultra-rapid devices and charging hubs designed for drivers looking to recharge their vehicle as quickly as possible on longer journeys will particularly help reduce range and charging worries for EV owners.
There are now more than 7,000 150kW+ devices across Great Britain that can typically replenish an EV’s battery from 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 15 to 30 minutes.
The numbers show there are now 14,000 50kW fast chargers.
The number of 50kW charging hubs (six or more 50kW) also rose from 264 at the end of 2023 to 537 at the end of 2024.
Ultra-rapid (150kW+) devices have seen an 83% increase since the end of 2023, with 7,000 150kW+ chargers now available across the country
London still the focus charger installations as other parts of the country are neglected
Distribution across the UK is picking up with nine out of 12 geographical areas of the UK now having over 1,000 50KW+ chargers.
Although Wales and the North West continued to be less covered, they made good progress in 2024, unlike Northern Ireland which continues to lag with just 78 new high-powered charger installations last year and only 164 in total.
The network of destination chargers – which enable EV drivers to charge while they stop – continues to grow with 12,000 additional chargers now available at destinations including restaurants, hotels, retail car parks and leisure centres.
However, the number of on-street chargers isn’t such a countrywide rounded picture, with the majority of the growth concentrated in London: 72 per cent of new on-street EV chargers were installed in the capital.
ZapMap notes though that the LEVI (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) government funded projects are starting to come to fruition so there should be a more equitable distribution of on-street charging provision towards the end of 2025.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, said: ‘Last year was another record year for charging infrastructure growth with en-route charging points in particular being installed ahead of the growth in electric vehicle sales.
‘As we move into 2025, we can expect to see the benefits of the PCPR consumer regulations coming into effect combined with the impact of LEVI funded projects reaching local authorities and bringing more equitable access to charging devices.’
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said that while it is ‘positive’ to see that the availability of EV charge points is improving, there remains concerns about the higher cost of using public devices compared to those who can charge for less via homechagers and their domestic tariffs.
‘There is still a huge gulf in prices between public and home chargers, partly due to the higher rate of VAT at public charge points [20 per cent] compared to the 5 per cent domestic rate.
‘Charge point installations and cheaper public charging costs are two sides of the same coin when it comes to ramping up private EV demand.’
Motorway services remain the most popular charging locations – which shows many people do indeed take long journeys in EVs – with 58% of respondents topping up there
Is the UK on track to hit EV charging quotas?
The latest report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has found that to date chargepoint numbers have increased in line with what is needed to hit 2030 targets.
By 2030, the UK needs a minimum of 300,000 chargepoints and the NAO says this is ‘achievable’.
Chargepoint installation is seen as a key way to deliver the Government’s EV targets, which includes the 2030 ban on all new petrol and diesel cars, and all new cars and vans sold being zero-emission from 2035.
A key way to encourage drivers to use electric vehicles is to provide public chargepoints, which is why achieving these targets is so vital to uptake.
Although the numbers are currently on schedule, the NAO has warned that there’s ‘more to do to ensure adequate coverage in all parts of the country’ and that it’s more expensive than it needs to be to install chargers due to planning permission and electricity grid connections.
How satisfied are EV drivers with the charging network?
A recent poll by leading EV charge point app ZapMap found that the public charging network is as important as ever.
Half of EV owners using public charging at least once a month, even when they have a homecharger installed at their residence.
While the average satisfaction rating for the UK’s public charging network in ZapMap’s research was just 64 out of 100, three in five respondents said that public charging had improved in 2024.
Fifty-three per cent of EV drivers said they use charging hubs (these are dedicated charging stations with multiple chargers and bays) in 2024, up from 47 per cent in 2023.
However, motorway services remain the most popular charging locations – which shows many people do indeed take long journeys in EVs – with 58 per cent of respondents topping up there.
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