Local authorities in Britain have made significant progress in the rollout of EV charging but ongoing disparities in coverage remain.

Average coverage across local authorities has increased from 17.2% in 2022 to 24.8% in 2024. Image credit: Vauxhall

Net zero data consultancy Field Dynamics has teamed up with Zapmap and Ordnance Survey for the latest edition of its On Street Charging Report, which explores council provision of EV charging for households without off-street parking – said to comprise 32.7% of all households in the country.

Published as latest Zapmap figures show the UK’s public charging infrastructure has grown 46% in the last year, the report spotlights major progress in charging installations but also highlights continued gaps in coverage.

Field Dynamics generated the report by assessing every household in Britain using advanced algorithms and hyper-granular mapping data from Ordnance Survey. On-street households, those unable to charge a vehicle on their property, were identified, and public charger locations were mapped with support from Zapmap. The report calculated the percentage coverage of on-street households for each local authority.

Key Findings:

1. Overall Progress: Average coverage across local authorities has increased from 17.2% in 2022 to 24.8% in 2024.
2. Growth in Charger Locations: There has been a notable increase of over 60% in the number of charger locations between 2022 and 2024.
3. Leading Regions: London leads with 67% coverage of on-street households, significantly higher than the national average of 20%. Outside London, Brighton and Hove (83%), Coventry (76%), and Portsmouth (58%) are at the forefront.
4. Regional Variations: Scotland has the highest average coverage at 28.7%, followed by England at 24.5% and Wales at 21.9%.

Despite these advancements, significant disparities remain.

London stands out with the highest EV charger coverage – ‘on-street households’ in the household typically have more than six charging locations within a five-minute walk, while the national average is less than two.

But across Britain, 38 local authorities still cover less than 10% of their on-street households, underscoring the need for further development.

Field Dynamics’ managing director Craig Stephenson said: “This report underscores the significant progress made by local authorities in expanding EV charging infrastructure. However, it also highlights the need for continued efforts to ensure equitable access to charging facilities across all regions.”

To download the full report, click here. An interactive map is online here.