The number of public EV charge points in the UK has surpassed 75,000, according to new data from Zapmap. As of the end of February, there are 75,675 charge points nationwide, marking a 32% increase from February 2024, when 57,290 were recorded.
The milestone charge point, operated by Ionity, is one of eight ultra-rapid chargers installed at the Village Hotel in Bristol. Located near the M4, M5, and M32 motorways, the site offers high-powered charging of up to 350 kW and is designed to accommodate both en-route charging and destination use.
Ultra-rapid charging has seen particularly strong growth, increasing by 74% over the past year. However, all segments of public charging have expanded, from residential on-street solutions to destination chargers at hotels and leisure centres.
Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder & COO at Zapmap, said: “Having 75,000 public charge points available, across the different charging use cases, is a significant milestone for the UK EV market. An extensive network of public charging, especially high visibility hubs, helps drive confidence for the next wave of drivers who will be making the switch to electric over the next few years.
“As the infrastructure continues to grow, Zapmap’s focus is to make sure that EV drivers have access to the best up-to-date information so they can find and pay for public charging with confidence.”
The expansion of the charging network is expected to continue, with projects funded by the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme set to accelerate on-street charger installations later this year. Private sector investment is also playing a role, with ChargeUK members committing £6bn to further expansion by 2030.
Vicky Read, CEO at ChargeUK, said: “Reaching 75,000 public charge points is a significant milestone and an incredible achievement for an industry that is barely a decade old. We know a successful transition to EVs depends on world-class charging infrastructure being deployed ahead of demand.
“Today’s announcement is yet more proof that ChargeUK’s members are getting on with the job, with the public network having grown by 37% in 2024. But now is not the time for complacency. Millions more EVs will be sold in the coming years, so we need to keep the momentum going with ChargeUK’s members having committed to invest £6bn by 2030 to do just this.
“Though translating investment into chargers requires a supportive policy environment. That means a strong and stable ZEV mandate and positive steps to address barriers to affordability and deployment, such as equalising VAT, a solution to rising standing charges, and the speeding up of grid connections.”
Andreas Atkins, country manager, UK & Ireland at Ionity, added: “It’s been a real personal pleasure to see IONITY’s UK network grow, and the region become a real success story for EV infrastructure in Europe. We’ve doubled the number of chargers available in the UK year-on-year in the past two years, including our largest site in the UK at Dartford, and that’s come as part of a huge push alongside other CPOs right across the country to accommodate every kind of transport.
“That these chargers are available through a consolidated hub like Zapmap, informing and educating road users, is huge for normalising EV travel. For the UK to have reached 75,000 is incontrovertible evidence, even in an uncertain political climate, that sustainable transport in the UK is here to stay — and to grow!”
The Village Hotel Group has also contributed to the expansion of ultra-rapid charging infrastructure. Kelli Turner, general counsel / director of ESG at Village Hotel Club, said: “The UK’s shift to a greener future requires action from all. At Village, we’re proud to play a role in supporting this shift through the installation of ultra-rapid chargers across our estate.
“This not only allows electric vehicle users to charge much faster than a standard charger, but also has the added convenience of allowing visitors to charge while at their local Village Gym, using our coworking space VWorks, or just popping in for a coffee at an onsite Starbucks.”
