Celebrating 50,000 electric car charge points in the UK

23 Oct

ZapMap recently announced a significant achievement in the UK's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, with the country now boasting over 50,000 public EV charging points. The symbolic 50,000th charging station was an ultra-rapid device installed at a service station in Weston-super-Mare.

50,000 Charger in Weston-super-Mare — The symbolic 50,000th charging station was an ultra-rapid device installed at a service station in Weston-super-Mare.

EV charging points surpassed the number of petrol stations in the UK in 2019. According to Statista’s data as of August 2023, there are 8,365 petrol stations in the UK. It is important to note that we are discussing petrol stations and not pumps here. This is a welcome change, addressing a longstanding challenge for EV drivers: the limited availability of charging infrastructure nationwide.

At the start of 2022, it was reported that 81% of drivers wanted the government to do more to increase the number of chargers in the UK. The government later introduced a new strategy to improve consumer experience by making more convenient, affordable and reliable charging accessible across the country. It also committed to a £1.6 billion investment to expand the UK charging network, with 300,000 public chargers expected to be available by 2030.

Graph showing EV charge points from 2019 to 2025 — The graph, taken from ZapMap, shows EV charge points installed in the UK since August 2018, with a forecast for expansion until 2025.

A growing number of people are making the transition from petrol to electric cars. This is driven by the approaching deadline to phase out petrol cars (2035) and the steady rise in fuel prices over recent years. According to ZapMap, electric cars made up 17% of new car registrations in September 2023.

This post will explore the significance of reaching this 50,000 charging point milestone and provide insights into various methods of charging electric vehicles, along with tips for maximising range with each charge.

The significance of reaching 50,000 charging points

The graph below shows how the number of battery-electric cars has increased over the last four years.

Number of BEVs purchased in the UK — People will only adopt electric cars if they are easy to charge and use, which is why expanding the charging infrastructure is integral. This milestone is notable because charging should no longer be perceived as a barrier to the adoption of electric cars.

Common obstacles to EV adoption include charging infrastructure, EV performance, availability, and affordability. Instances of disputes and inconveniences at charging points, even late-night charging struggles, have been reported by the Daily Mail. Hopefully, as the infrastructure expands and home chargers become more prevalent, EV users will experience a more positive and convenient charging process, aligning with ZapMap's 2030 projection of 100,000 charging points in the UK.

Hopefully, as the infrastructure expands and home chargers become more common, people will have a more positive experience especially if this is in line with ZapMap’s 2030 prediction of 100,000 chargers in the UK.

Another exciting milestone is that the UK has also now reached 10,000 rapid and ultra-rapid EV charging points, according to ZapMap. This was installed at Sedbergh Leisure Centre in Bradford and is part of the Genepoint charging network. Co-Founder and COO at Zapmap said, “hitting the 10,000 high-powered charging devices mark is important for electric car drivers across the country” and “will give drivers confidence to drive electric wherever they go.”

What you need to know about different EV chargers.

The difference between AC charging and DC charging is the location where the alternating current gets converted. Chargers are categorised based on their power output:

Slow Chargers (3-6kW)

These use AC power and are often in the form of 3-pin plug EV chargers. Despite their slower speed, a report from the AA indicated that using slow chargers during peak times costs 16p per mile, making them one of the more expensive charging options during peak hours.

Fast Chargers (7-22kW)

Common home chargers deliver 7kW of power, adding 25-30 miles of range per hour. Higher-end fast chargers at 22kW can charge a car in 3-4 hours, depending on the battery's size and current state of charge.

Rapid Chargers (25-99kW)

DC rapid chargers, rated at 50kW, can charge an EV from empty to 80% in less than an hour. These are often found at roadside and motorway service stations.

Ultra-rapid Chargers (100kW+)

Ultra-rapid DC chargers, with a rating of 100kW and above, can charge an EV to 80% in approximately 20 minutes.

Charging at home versus charging in public.

The comparison table demonstrates the cost of charging a BMW iX3-e Estate at home (up to 7kWh) versus a public rapid charger (22-100kWh). Home charging proves £4.86 cheaper, emphasizing the convenience of home charging. To understand the cost per kWh, we used the AA recharge flat rate report for July.

Charging innovation

The biggest win in terms of electric vehicle charging is how quickly the infrastructure has grown in the past ten years, even in the last four years when looking at the graph above!

The charging infrastructure has seen remarkable growth in the past decade. The EV charging industry is expected to continue evolving as more drivers embrace electric vehicles.

Smart charging

Smart EV charging offers control and automation where standard charging doesn’t. This gives the driver more control over how their EV is charged from the desired charge level to the time it takes to fully charge the car.

Wireless charging

This is an innovative technology that eliminates the need for cables and plugs to charge electric cars. Instead, this happens through a process called inductive charging which works by transferring electricity from one magnetic coil in the charging pad to another one fitted to the car. This is a really exciting advancement and once it is refined wireless charging will enhance convenience and accessibility for EV owners.

Solar panels

EVs can be charged using solar panels, reducing the carbon footprint and saving on electricity costs. The number of panels required depends on their efficiency and local climate, taking between 30 minutes and 12 hours to charge an electric car. Future developments may see more solar-panel charging points, promoting cleaner charging practices and reducing grid dependency.

If you would like to learn more about charging your electric car, visit our dedicated charging page. The Electric Car Scheme allows you to include a home charge point with your car and save 30-60% through salary sacrifice - keeping your journey low-cost and hassle-free!

Happy charging!

Last updated: 11/12/23

Ellie Garratt

With a background in marketing, specialising in performance marketing, Ellie recently joined The Electric Car Scheme as a Content Marketing Executive. She is passionate about promoting sustainability, particularly by encouraging companies to consider salary sacrifice as a valuable employee benefit.