- UK’s EV charging network can power half a billion miles daily, with nearly a million charge points installed and a new public charge point added every 25 minutes.
- Infrastructure already supports 580 miles per EV daily, projecting over 300,000 public charge points by 2030, outpacing EV adoption.
- To maintain momentum, the Government must remove barriers, equalise VAT on charging, and boost private investment to ensure convenient and affordable EV charging.
ChargeUK Unveils Groundbreaking White Paper: Nearly a Million EV Charge Points Installed, 2030 Vision in Sight
ChargeUK, the leading voice of the UK’s EV charging industry, has launched a new White Paper titled “Powering Ahead to 2030”. In collaboration with independent transport research organisation New AutoMotive, the analysis reveals a number of key findings:
- A new public charge point is being installed every 25 minutes.
- There are nearly a million home and public charge points in the UK today, almost one for every fully electric vehicle (EV).
- The current infrastructure can provide enough power for every EV in the UK to drive 580 miles a day – 25 times the average daily car journey and further than the distance from London to Aberdeen.
- If the current growth rate continues, the rollout of public chargers will stay ahead of EV adoption, with over 300,000 public charge points expected in the UK by 2030.
- To ensure the charging sector remains on track for 2030, the new Government must take steps to remove grid, planning, and permitting barriers, make owning and charging an EV easy and affordable, and clarify and expedite existing public subsidy schemes.
The full paper can be found here.
The latest analysis reveals that the UK now boasts over 930,000 public, home, and work chargers for 1.1 million EVs, equating to nearly one charger per EV.
Today’s extensive charging network can deliver nearly seven gigawatts of power daily, enabling each EV in the UK to drive 580 miles a day – over 25 times the average daily journey of 21 miles, and further than the distance from London to Aberdeen. Collectively, this totals over 500 million miles of driving capability.
The charging network is expanding rapidly, with a significant surge in public charge point installations. Over the past two years, the number of public charge points has more than doubled, and a new public charge point is being installed every 25 minutes. This rapid growth means public charge point availability is now increasing faster than the rate of new EVs entering the market.
If this growth continues, the UK is projected to surpass 300,000 public chargers by 2030, according to the National Infrastructure Commission report published in May 2024.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said:
“In little more than a decade, the UK’s charging sector has grown to become a major player in the green economy, providing the infrastructure that more than a million EV drivers rely on today and scaling fast to deliver the charging needed through to 2030 and beyond.
Convenient and affordable charging for all is key to the UK’s switch to EVs. This new analysis will give current and future EV drivers confidence that the charging infrastructure will be there for them.
While the outlook is positive, there is still work to be done. Delivering what the UK needs by 2030 means continuing to grow at pace, ensuring that deployment ramps up in locations that have been hampered by delays, and ensuring the UK has a thriving EV market, so that investment in infrastructure continues at scale.
ChargeUK’s members are committed to this, but we cannot do this without the backing of the new Government, who we call on to take the steps needed to remove delivery barriers, help us offer affordable charging and support our investment, as set out in our manifesto.”
To keep accelerating at today’s pace and stay on track for 2030, the charging sector needs the new Government to:
- Facilitate more charger installations: Remove grid, planning, and permitting delays that hinder progress and include renewable electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
- Simplify EV ownership and charging: Equalise VAT on charging, promote lower-cost electricity, improve signage, and support drivers in accessing EVs through the new, second-hand, or fleet market.
- Boost private investment: Clarify the Rapid Charging Fund, expedite the Local EV Infrastructure Fund, address significant increases in standing charges, and collaborate on developing HGV charging provision.
ChargeUK’s new research underscores the remarkable growth and potential of the UK’s EV charging network. With nearly a million charge points already in place and the ability to power half a billion miles daily, the future of EV infrastructure looks promising. However, continued support and decisive action from the new Government are crucial to maintaining this momentum and achieving the 2030 vision. Together, we can ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the green economy, providing convenient, affordable, and widespread charging for all EV drivers.
