The Government looks set to miss its own target for high-powered chargers at motorway services, potentially impacting electric vehicle adoption.

Gridserve has said it’s ‘laser-focused’ on delivering six (or more) high-power chargers at all Moto and Roadchef locations by the end of the year

Ministers’ goal is for six or more rapid or ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023 – but new RAC research conducted on 119 motorway services found fewer than a quarter (23%, equating to 27 MSAs) currently have the target number of chargers.

Its analysis revealed there are around 400 high-powered charging units situated at motorway services, capable of charging 682 electric cars at one time.

And this means there is currently an average of just over three (3.4) rapid or ultra-rapid chargers at motorway services – despite the UK having an estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles on its roads.

The research also explored the number of connectors these devices have and found an average of nearly four (3.8) of the most commonly used CCS (Combined Charging System) connectors and just under two (1.8) CHadeMO connectors, the latter predominantly used by Nissan Leaf drivers.

It also revealed some six motorway services in England don’t have any high-powered chargers: Leicester Forest on both sides of the M1, Tebay South on the M6, Carlisle Northbound on the M1, Strensham Southbound on the M5 and Barton Park on the A1(M).

Further research by the RAC indicates that of the near-8,000 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in the UK, only 5% are at motorways services.

The Government’s ‘Taking Charge: The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy’ published in March 2022 sets out plans to accelerate the rollout of high-powered chargers on the strategic road network through the £950m Rapid Charging Fund.

Mirroring a Government policy paper from May 2020, the document states: “We will ensure that every motorway service area has at least six rapid chargers by the end of 2023, with some having more than 12.”

It also adds that: “Many operators of motorway service areas have embraced the ambition to install six high-powered chargers by the end of 2023. Over 70% of England’s motorway service areas now have a plan to deliver this, and we will continue to work with site operators to ensure that every site is reached.”

The Government’s Rapid Charging Fund is intended to support the rollout of at least 6,000 high-powered super-fast charge points across England’s motorways by 2035. It’s said to provide a “pivotal opportunity to open up the market at motorway service areas as well as increase charging infrastructure available to drivers”. And while the DfT has said it recognises that “the commercial case for high-powered chargers can be difficult”, it’s stated that it’s taken significant steps to address this.

But the RAC said much more work needs to be done for the target on high-powered chargers on motorways to be met by the end of 2023 – this includes action to remove barriers to installation projects.

EV spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Installing these types of units is not straightforward as connecting to the electricity grid is expensive and time-consuming, but clearly more needs to be done to make this process simpler than it is currently. While we understand the Government is taking steps to expedite matters, the importance of ensuring sufficient high-powered charging is readily available up and down our motorway network can’t be emphasised enough.

“As a lack of charging facilities is rapidly becoming one of the most widely quoted reasons for drivers not going electric, all parties involved in making installations happen must work together to overcome this obstacle.”

Williams added that rapid and ultra-rapid charging was vital to give drivers confidence in going electric – and said that “while early adopters have been prepared to plan their journeys carefully around recharging stops, the everyday driver will want this to be much easier and quicker”.

Quentin Willson, automotive journalist and founder of the EV campaign FairCharge, accused the Government of working at a “glacial speed” to get rapid chargers on the motorway service network – particularly when compared to Tesla with its Superchargers.

“We simply must pick up the pace building a long-range, high-powered charging infrastructure to offer confidence to electric car drivers, the EV market and global investors,” he stated. “Not having enough charging infrastructure is now a major refrain from the anti-EV lobby and is holding back adoption.”

Consumer body Which? also warned that concerns about public charging infrastructure were preventing drivers from making the switch – and said that many drivers were unable to rely on adequate charging points close to their homes or to get them through a long journey.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy, continued: “Charging should be easy, reliable and seamless to support people making the move to an electric car. The Government must quickly improve the consumer experience of using public charging networks so that drivers feel confident making the switch to an electric vehicle when they are ready.”

Gridserve has responded too. saying that it’s “laser-focused” on delivering six (or more) high-power chargers at all Moto and Roadchef locations by the end of the year.

A spokesperson continued: “This is not straightforward, and there are issues outside of our control, particularly relating to the timeframes for energising new grid connections. However, we have the funding, the supply chains, the partnerships, and the expert teams all in-place to meet Gridserve’s contribution to delivering the Government’s 2023 target. In fact, Gridserve has already delivered over 70% of the high-power Electric Super Hubs identified in the RAC report, and given we are less than halfway through the year, and we have the considerable momentum with dozens of additional sites in and entering construction over the next few months, at least from Gridserve’s perspective, we would suggest that the RAC report is a little premature.”

Long-term shortfall in charging infrastructure deployment

Latest figures also show that the Government has a long way to go to meet its target for charging devices by the end of the decade.

Last year’s EV Infrastructure Strategy pledged to support the UK market to reach 300,000 public EV charge points by 2030, supported by the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund for local authorities to use to expand charge point provision in their area and the Rapid Charging Fund.

The Government’s current charging statistics, taken from Zap-Map data, show that as of 1 April 2023, there were 40,150 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK. Of this, 7,647 were rated rapid’ devices or above, accounting for 19% of all charging devices, while 22,338 were fast chargers, which is 56% of all charging devices.

Compared to 1 January 2023, total installed devices increased by 3,095, an increase of 8%, while rapid charging or above devices increased by 760, an increase of 11%. But achieving the government target will require a much higher upturn in device installation.

And that’s assuming the 300,000-device charge point is sufficient for needs; forecasts in the Competition and Markets Authority’s ‘Building a comprehensive and competitive electric vehicle charging sector that works for all drivers’ suggest that at least 280,000-480,000 public charge points will be needed by 2030.