The UK will meet its target of having more than 300,000 public charge points by 2030 if current growth continues.

UK charge point numbers have more than doubled in the past two years

A new white paper from the ChargeUK trade association has found that the network is growing rapidly, with a boom in public charge point deployment currently underway.

The ‘Powering Ahead to 2030’ analysis, carried out with independent transport research organisation New Automotive, reveals that charge point numbers have more than doubled in the past two years, with a new public charge point installed every 25 minutes in the last quarter. This means that public charge point availability is now rising faster than the number of new EVs coming onto the market.

If this exponential growth rate continues, the UK will reach in excess of 300,000 public chargers by 2030, as confirmed by the National Infrastructure Commission report published in May 2024.

ChargeUK’s white paper calls on the new government to ensure the charge point network keeps accelerating at today’s pace and stays on track for 2030 through a number of measures.

These include work to get even more chargers in the ground by removing the grid, planning and permitting delays slowing the UK down, and including renewable electricity in the RTFO.

ChargeUK is also calling on Labour to make charging and owning an EV as easy and affordable as possible by equalising VAT on charging, encouraging lower cost electricity, improving signage and supporting drivers to access EVs, whether through the new, second-hand or fleet market.

It’s also urging for work to maximise private investment by clarifying the Rapid Charging Fund, speeding up the Local EV Infrastructure Fund, addressing significant increases in standing charges, and working with the industry body to further develop HGV charging provision.

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, said: “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 take the steps needed to remove delivery barriers, help us offer affordable charging and support our investment, as set out in our manifesto.”

Naomi Nye, EV charging expert at Drax Electric Vehicles, welcomed the news but said confidence in EV charger access and EV range continues to bring challenges for electrification across households and businesses. She’s called for more government support and clarification on incentives and grants; along with an update on the Public Charge Point Regulations and whether they will be reviewed and updated to keep in line with drivers’ needs at public charge points.

Nye added: “In a recent study by Drax Electric Vehicles, over a quarter of fleet decision-makers cited a lack of government support as a main barrier to electrification. Loosening petrol’s stronghold on UK road transport will be no easy feat, particularly when many businesses are scaling back on high-investment sustainability projects. The next cohort of fleet managers and businesses are inherently risk-averse compared to early adopters and, therefore, will need more support and assurance through the electrification process.”

ChargeUK’s ‘Powering Ahead to 2030’ white paper is online here.