Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Infrastructure and TechnologyLatestNews

Motorway chargers increase 51% in 2024

Some 200 additional 150kW+ electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been installed at motorway services in England since the beginning of 2024, according to analysis by Zapmap and the RAC.

The news represents a 51% increase over the last eight months and a new record for installation numbers. It means almost half (48% – 55 sites) of the 114 motorway services in England now have six or more of these 150kW+ chargers, with many also providing points up to 350kW. Therefore the UK’s 1.17 million EV drivers can now use 595 chargers on the country’s motorways.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of service stations have at least one ultra-rapid 150kW+ charger, often in addition to other rapid chargers. In addition, there are now six stations with more than 12 150kW+ devices: Reading M4 east and westbound, Cobham M25, Exeter M5, Gloucester M5 northbound and Frankley M5 southbound.

Frankley on the M5 southbound has 28 150kW chargers, the most in the UK, and Reading on the M4 westbound having 25. Locations also have additional Tesla chargers, which now also allow makes of other EVs to use their chargers at four locations.

For high-power charging over 50kW, each motorway service has an average of seven chargers, creating a total of 818 at 114 sites. If assessing just ultra-rapid chargers, there is now an average of five at every service station in England.

Only four MSAs do not have any charging provision over 50kW at present but have plans to install imminently.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:

“It is particularly encouraging to see so many ultra-rapid chargers being installed, with these representing nearly three-quarters (73%) of all the high-powered devices at motorway services so far this year, up from 54% a year ago. As we’ve long said, this is just what’s needed to give current and prospective EV drivers the reassurance to know they can get back on the road quickly when making long journeys beyond the range of their cars.

“We know there is a willingness from both service station companies and charge point operators to get as many of the fastest devices put in, but often the prime stumbling block is getting the required high-powered connections to the country’s national electricity grid. More needs to be done to make this process faster and simpler than it is currently. This is the exact point of the Government’s £950m Rapid Charging Fund, so it would be good to see this delivering more high-speed connections soon.”

Zapmap co-founder and chief operating officer Melanie Shufflebotham said:

“There has been a huge investment in charging at motorway services areas over the past couple of years by charge point operators and motorway service providers.

“The increase in number of high-powered charging at motorway service areas since the beginning of the year has been impressive. It’s good to see Tesla opening up some of its locations to all vehicles, and I am sure there is more to come.”

Image from Shutterstock

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