UK charging network tops 120,000 devices for first time

The UK’s public charging network hit two landmarks in April, including surpassing 120,000 devices across the country.

The latest data from Zapmap shows that there are now 120,388 public EV chargers around the UK and that the number of ultra-rapid chargers has also topped 1,000 for the first time.

Zapmap COO Melanie Shufflebotham called the news a “significant landmark” for the country’s EV transition while Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK used it to encourage further government support for the shift.

The 120,000th charger was a 22kW unit installed by Raw Charging at the Lydford Gorge beauty spot in Devon.

Raw’s CCO Neil Broadbank CCO at RAW, said: “Surpassing 120,000 public EV chargers is a remarkable milestone for the UK and a clear signal that the nation’s charging infrastructure is maturing at pace. We’re delighted that one of Raw’s chargers is the 120,000th installation.”

Speedy roll-out

While the milestone charger was a slower “standard” unit, the Zapmap figures show that roll-out of ultra-rapid chargers continues to outpace the rest of the industry.

Installations of 150kW+ devices have grown 40% year-on-year and there are now 13,346 around the country. Significantly, there are now 1,004 hubs, defined as sites with at least eight or more high-powered chargers.

Melanie Shufflebotham said: “The availability of a network of 120,000 public chargers across on-street, destination and en-route locations is not just a significant milestone for the UK EV market but also a great result for EV drivers.

“We’re seeing increasing numbers of drivers making the switch to electric, and an extensive network of public charging options, both in high visibility hubs and in convenient destinations where people will be stopping anyway, helps drive confidence.”

Vicky Read added: “Two million EVs and 120,000 chargers. The electric transition is well down the road and as petrol prices remain high it’s time for government to hit the accelerator. Sticking to EV sales quotas and fixing the policy issues pushing up public charging prices would be a win for the cost of living, climate and economic growth.”

EVA England’s CEO Vicky Edmonds said the landmark achievement highlighted the need to ensure “no one is left behind”. She noted: “That includes drivers with disabilities, who still cannot safely access much of the network, and drivers who cannot reliably charge at home who remain too exposed to much higher public charging costs. The next phase must be about building a charging network that is affordable, accessible and works for every driver.”