Rapid Growth in UK EV Charging and Emerging Hydrogen Hubs Drive Net‑Zero Transport

Welcome to Net Zero News, your daily briefing on the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.

The UK’s drive toward net‑zero transport is gathering pace, underpinned by rapid expansion in public EV charging infrastructure and the emergence of low‑carbon hydrogen production hubs.

Public EV Charging Infrastructure Soars
UK public EV charging infrastructure saw a robust increase of approximately 19.1% in 2025, with over 14,000 new charging devices installed. By the end of the year, the country boasted nearly 87,800 public charging devices across more than 45,000 locations, including on‑street, destination and en‑route points. Ultra‑rapid chargers (150 kW and above) led the growth, now totalling nearly 9,900 units a 41% surge since December 2024.

Charging hubs locations housing six or more rapid or ultra‑rapid chargers also expanded significantly, rising 39% to reach 748 sites nationwide. The North West region achieved more than 35% year‑on‑year growth in high‑powered chargers, with Wales, the East of England, and Northern Ireland each growing about 29%, albeit from lower baselines.

On‑street charging infrastructure also improved, with 7,659 additions in 2025, taking the total to 33,177. Greater London continued to lead, housing 24,026 of these points. Notably, nearly four million charging sessions were completed monthly by the end of 2025 up from around 2.5 million the previous year underscoring enhanced reliability and growing adoption.

Nevertheless, demand is stretching resources. Analysis covering April 2023 to March 2024 shows a rate of about 1,300 new charge points monthly well below the level needed to meet 2030 targets. Projections suggest that the rate must more than double to roughly 2,800 per month to stay on track.

Green Buses Investment
The UK Government committed nearly £38 million in April 2025 to enable 12 local authorities to deploy approximately 319 zero‑emission buses by spring 2027. Nottinghamshire, Hull, and the West of England Combined Authority were among the recipients of substantial funding. Further policy shifts have extended the sale of hybrid vehicles until 2035 under the ZEV Mandate, providing a transitional buffer while encouraging full electrification.

Support for Clean Commercial Transport
The Aegis Energy ‘Trailblazers’ scheme, launched in mid‑2025, offers fleet operators discounted EV charging, networking, and input into future hub design. Wordsworth Excavations, already operating electric HGVs, is the first member, benefiting from depot‑level charging costs and tailored decarbonisation advice.

Hydrogen Infrastructure Accelerates
In the heavy‑industry heart of Hull, Associated British Ports (ABP), HiiROC, and px Group unveiled a pioneering low‑carbon hydrogen production facility at Saltend Chemicals Park. Using HiiROC’s thermal plasma electrolysis, the plant will initially produce 10 tonnes of hydrogen daily, forming a cornerstone for net‑zero industrial logistics.

Further highlighting hydrogen’s role in transport decarbonisation, Hydrogen UK’s benchmarking report recommends establishing at least 200 hydrogen refuelling stations (each with >1 tonne/day capacity) by 2030, alongside a national hydrogen‑in‑transport strategy spanning all modes including HGVs, aviation, maritime, rail, buses and commercial vehicles.

What this means:
The UK’s transport sector is experiencing a transformative shift. The remarkable expansion in EV charging especially ultra‑rapid hubs alongside targeted public and fleet electrification funding, is creating a foundation for widespread EV adoption. However, sustaining momentum requires a dramatic scaling of installation rates and continued focus on equitable access, particularly for those without private charging.

Simultaneously, hydrogen technology is gaining ground as a critical decarbonisation pathway for heavy and hard‑to‑abate transport modes. The Saltend hydrogen plant and Hydrogen UK’s strategic proposals demonstrate hydrogen’s growing integration into the UK’s net‑zero transport roadmap.

These developments reveal a multi‑modal approach: electrification leading the charge in urban and light transport; hydrogen now emerging as a complementary pillar in heavy‑duty and industrial logistics. By uniting infrastructure expansion, policy support, and industrial innovation, the UK is laying down a resilient, low‑carbon transport framework.

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