UK predicted to hit 100,000 charger milestone by mid-2025

The UK will have at least 100,000 public EV chargers by mid-2025, according to Zapmap.

Based on the current rate of roll-out, the mapping specialist predicts that the country’s milestone 100,000th public device could be installed as early as August 2025.

Official forecasts say that the UK will need at least 300,000 chargers by 2030 to keep up with rising EV adoption. There have been worries that the country will struggle to meet that target but the latest figures and the rapid acceleration of growth gives hope that it is achievable.

Zapmap’s forecast comes as it revealed the country now has more than 60,000 public charging points. The landmark was reached in April with the installation of an on-street device in Streatham, London, by char.gy.

The 60,000th device’s installation came just six months after the country broke the 50,000 charger mark, representing a sharp increase in the rate of installations. According to Zapmap’s data, the overall rate of installation in the first four months of 2024 has increased by almost 37% compared with the average across 2023.

The first four months of the year have seen an average of more than 1,900 devices installed every month, up from the 2023 average of 1,400 per month.

April’s milestone has been driven by particularly strong growth in the on-street and ultra-rapid areas.The number of en-route ultra-rapid devices has increased by 135% since April 2023. There are now 4,988 of these devices across the country.

Over the same time period, the number of low-powered devices on residential streets, used primarily for overnight charging, has increased by more than 54%.

Jade Edwards, head of insights at Zapmap, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the strong pace of charger installations we saw last year is already being exceeded in 2024.

“These latest figures show encouraging growth right across the charging spectrum, from the lowest-powered charge points at the end of your street through to the speediest ultra-rapids on the motorway.

“With more than 135% growth in the number of the highest-powered chargers over the last year, and 343 high-powered charging hubs across the country at the end of April, the UK is well on the way to hitting 100,000 public charging devices in summer 2025.”

John Lewis, CEO at char.gy, which is adding chargers at a rate of 400 per month, commented: “We’re delighted that a char.gy charge point is marking this significant milestone, in a year of remarkable growth, signalling a bright future for the UK’s charging infrastructure.

“When everyday charging is convenient and affordable, electric cars become a viable option for everyone. This is where we see on-street, hyper-local charging playing a crucial role.”

Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, added: “Hitting 60,000 public charging devices is an extremely significant milestone. This is really just the crest of the wave. There’s a real momentum behind the increased rate of charge point installations up and down the country.

“Without a doubt, it is great news for electric car drivers that not only the sheer number but also the variety of charging options are improving every month.”