UK Installs 60,000 EV Charge Points as Rates Soar

The United Kingdom has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 60,000 public charging points, with ambitions set to hit 100,000 by the summer of 2025.

The 60,000th public charging device was recently installed on Natal Road in Streatham, London, marking a significant achievement for the Char.gy on-street charging network.

This accomplishment comes just six months after reaching the 50,000 mark, underscoring a rapid acceleration in the installation of charging points in recent years.

According to recent data released by Zapmap, the rate of installation in the initial months of 2024 has surged by nearly 37% compared to the average in 2023. With more than 1,900 devices being installed monthly in the first four months of the year, up from the 2023 average of 1,400 per month.

The growth in April was driven by a substantial increase in two critical areas of the nation’s charging infrastructure. The number of ultra-rapid devices, catering to en-route charging, has risen by 135% since April 2023, now standing at 4,988 devices around the country.

Simultaneously, the quantity of low-powered devices on residential streets for overnight charging has surged by over 54%. Among the contributors to this growth is Char.gy, which recently unveiled its 3,000th public charging point, with new installations occurring at a rate of about 400 per month.

Melanie Shufflebotham, the co-founder and COO of Zapmap, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Reaching 60,000 public charging devices is a momentous achievement for electric vehicle drivers nationwide. The upsurge in the installation rate of charging points is incredibly promising and indicates a bright future for electric vehicle users with a widening array of charging options each month.”

Looking ahead, projections suggest that the UK is poised to achieve 100,000 public charging devices by August 2025 based on the current pace of installations, aligning with the government’s target of 300,000 charge points nationwide by 2030.

Jade Edwards, head of insights at Zapmap, commented, “It’s heartening to witness that the rapid pace of charger installations seen last year is being exceeded in 2024. The recent statistics demonstrate encouraging growth throughout the charging spectrum, from low-powered charge points in neighbourhoods to swift ultra-rapid options on motorways.”

With over 135% growth in high-powered chargers in the past year and 343 high-powered charging hubs in the country as of April, the UK is well on track to achieve the milestone of 100,000 public charging devices by summer 2025.

John Lewis, CEO of Char.gy, highlighted the strong residential demand witnessed at the milestone charge point in Streatham, having already facilitated over 1,200 miles of electric driving. Electric vehicle owners have paid 13% less on average for these miles compared to petrol and diesel drivers, and 44% less than they would have relied solely on rapid public charging.

Lewis emphasised, “When everyday charging is convenient and cost-effective, electric vehicles become a feasible choice for all. On-street, hyper-local charging plays a pivotal role in accelerating the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, and we eagerly anticipate collaborating with more councils to enhance charging networks.”

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