UK Accelerates EV Infrastructure and Zero‑Emission Bus Adoption

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The UK’s shift to zero‑emission transport is gaining substantial momentum, as illustrated by several key developments across the electric vehicle (EV) and public transport landscape. In October 2025, the number of public EV charge points rose by 3,928 in the third quarter, bringing the national total to 86,021 devices at 43,507 locations marking a 22% year‑on‑year increase. Ultra‑rapid chargers those exceeding 150 kW were a standout growth area, with 9,290 such devices now installed, a 51% rise from a year earlier. These rapid hubs are often clustered, with 663 locations now hosting six or more rapid or ultra‑rapid devices, 212 of which were added in the last year.

Earlier, in the first half of 2025, Zapmap recorded a 27% increase in new charge point installations, with 8,670 added and cumulative infrastructure reaching 82,369 devices across 40,479 locations. Installations of ultra‑rapid devices grew by nearly 23%, with 1,598 new additions, and these high‑power chargers now outnumber rapid chargers. The establishment of new charging hubs such as Osprey’s Rainhill and Watford sites, Be.EV’s Manchester Oasis, and Source’s Edinburgh hub reflects a strategic shift toward facilities enabling simultaneous, high‑speed charging.

The expansion isn’t uniform across regions: Scotland recorded a 29% rise in high‑powered chargers, North West 21%. While London maintains the majority of on‑street charging, the rest of the UK grew by over 25% in such installations during H1 2025. Earlier in April, 3,141 new charge points brought the total to 76,840 a 29% increase year‑on‑year with 49 new hubs raising the national total to 586.

Alongside infrastructure build‑out, policy support is also ramping up. The government’s new 10‑year Infrastructure Strategy, announced in June 2025, allocates £2.6 billion from 2026‑27 to 2029‑30 for transport decarbonisation and clean energy. This includes £1.4 billion for the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), £400 million specifically for charging infrastructure, and up to £200 million for zero‑emission HGVs and associated infrastructure.

From a policy standpoint, the EV transition framework continues to evolve. In April 2025, the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate was adjusted to allow greater flexibility: smaller manufacturers are now exempt, hybrids may be sold until 2035, and credits and transfers are more easily managed. Recently, the Conservative Party proposed scrapping the ZEV mandate altogether if elected, in favour of policies they describe as less burdensome, despite concerns around the economic risks of deviating from net‑zero pathways.

Public transport is also decarbonising. As of June 2025, Transport for London (TfL) operates over 2,000 zero‑emission buses approximately 20% of its fleet with the aim of full electrification by 2030. This shift is projected to deliver an estimated five million tonnes of carbon savings over 20 years. TfL’s climate action strategy has also been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), confirming alignment with the 1.5 °C warming limit. This includes plans to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and Scope 3 by 45% by 2030, maintaining those levels through 2040, and reaching net zero by 2040 . Additionally, software analysis shows that half of TfL’s supporting fleet could be converted to EVs immediately without altering schedules, given appropriate charging infrastructure.

What this means:
The UK is witnessing a rapid escalation in EV charging infrastructure, with growing investment, particularly in ultra‑rapid networks and charging hubs vital for long‑distance journeys. Government policy, while supportive via infrastructure funding, shows signs of political recalibration, especially around the ZEV mandate. On public transport, London leads with its expanding zero‑emission bus fleet backed by firm climate targets. For broader UK progress, maintaining momentum in infrastructure deployment and ensuring policy consistency will be essential to achieving net‑zero transport by mid‑century.

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