The sluggish roll-out of truly rapid public charge points is hampering drivers’ switch to electric vehicles, and could derail EV adoption.

Less than a fifth (17%) of new installations last year were either rapid or ultra-rapid devices, according to analysis by the RAC (pic credit: Osprey)

Less than a fifth (17%) of new installations last year were either rapid or ultra-rapid devices, according to analysis by the RAC.

And it’s warning that as well as helping drivers for whom home charging isn’t possible, having sufficient rapid and ultra-rapid chargers – ideally as part of charging hubs across the country – is also important in making it easier for electric car drivers to make longer trips.

While its data reveals that the number of public EV chargers increased by 7,600 – a rise of 37% – in 2021, and by a further 604 in January 2022, taking the total in the UK to 28,979, the picture is rather less rosy when it comes to the actual speed of the chargers.

As of the start of this month, only 5,279 – or 18% – of all public chargers are rapid or ultra-rapid devices, meaning in most cases drivers of electric cars are having to rely on the 23,700 non-rapid chargers when away from home.

What’s more, the number of faster chargers as a proportion of all the chargers installed actually reduced by 1% year-on-year.

And while 6,324 non-rapid chargers were installed during 2021, nearly double the number than the year before (96% more), just 1,276 new rapid or ultra-rapid chargers were put in over the same period – which is only 21% more than were installed in 2020.

The RAC added that the importance of having good and genuinely fast charging infrastructure is also brought into clear focus by the fact that new electric vehicle registrations are accelerating.

Separate analysis by the RAC suggests that registrations are outpacing the installation of new public charge points – as of July 2021 there are now 77 battery electric vehicles for every one rapid and ultra-rapid charger, up from 42 vehicles per charger two years earlier.

RAC director of electric vehicles Sarah Winward-Kotecha said: “These latest figures show we still have a long way to go. The number of public chargers isn’t keeping pace with the volume of new electric cars coming onto the road, and only a minority of devices being installed are rapid or ultra-rapid. This creates a real problem for motorists who rely on the public network because they can’t charge at home. And while slow chargers are fine for somebody who leaves their car at an office while they’re at work, they’re a lot less helpful in other places like supermarkets where a driver’s vehicle will be parked for a shorter period. What we don’t want to see are queues for charge points becoming a common sight as the electric revolution gathers pace.”

She added that while slower chargers have a place as part of the country’s developing EV infrastructure, getting many more drivers to opt for an electric car might depend on there being a marked step-up in terms of the number of faster chargers going in.

“Making sure all public chargers are easy to use, reliable and affordable is also vital, which is why we’ve joined the FairCharge campaign to fight for the VAT rate on public charging to be reduced from 20% to match the 5% levied on domestic electricity.”

FairCharge aims to ensure the environmental, economic and social benefits of the electric car revolution are properly harnessed by pushing key EV issues to the forefront of the political agenda such as the cost, availability and speed of charging as well as battery range and the affordability of switching to an electric car.

Electric car ambassador Quentin Willson, who is spearheading the FairCharge campaign, added: “The Government must make sure the benefits of the EV revolution are for everyone and not just the rich. While the increase in the number of chargers being rolled out is good, we need a nationwide network of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers to reduce charging times.”

Growth in public electric car charge points, by charger speed: