More than 100,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charge points are operational in the UK, according to a new report by Octopus Electroverse.
The firm’s new Charging Infrastructure Insights study discovered that one new public charger is being installed around every 13 minutes in the past six months.
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, which can recharge EVs in as little as 20 minutes, are being rolled out the quickest and now make up nearly a quarter (24%) of all public charge points.
The figure follows the government’s reaffirmation of the 2030 phase-out of ICE vehicles, with a target of 300,000 public chargers to be installed in the UK by the same year.
It also comes as the Octopus Electroverse has expanded since it launched in 2020. It is now one of Europe’s largest EV charging platforms, used by around half of electric car drivers in the UK.
A charging session is started every few seconds by an Electroverse electric car driver, fleet member or partner car manufacturer, it claimed.
Matt Davies, Director of Octopus Electroverse, said:
“This milestone shows we are building real momentum behind electric driving in the UK. Drivers can now trust there is a charger at almost every twist and turn of the road – making plugging in an EV feel as easy as charging up your phone.
”We’re well on track to turning the government’s 300,000 target by 2030 into a reality. And with new rules raising standards on reliability and ease of use, drivers can feel more confident than ever.”
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of national charging network Be.EV, said:
“What we need now is to upgrade the old chargers that are giving the industry a bad rep. It’s not a case of installing chargers and then you’re done. Charging providers have a responsibility to make sure chargers are upgraded and suit what drivers want today, not what they wanted three years ago.
“For example, contactless should be a given at all chargers, which it isn’t currently. This will greatly improve the driver experience, and give non-EV drivers yet another reason to make the switch.
“We also need more signposting on roads and motorways, which will help to bring an end to the outdated reliance on chargers at motorway service stations.”
Image courtesy of Octopus Electroverse
