Newly released data from Zapmap reveals that the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers reached ‘unprecedented’ levels in March and April 2023.
During these two months, over 2,000 new EV chargers were installed, propelling the total number of chargers in the UK to over 42,000. The average number of new chargers per month in 2023 increased by 75% compared to the same period in 2022.
April 2023 saw the activation of 2,080 new charge points, bringing the year-to-date tally to more than 6,400. This reflects a net increase of 14% in new chargers since the beginning of 2023 and a 35% rise from the corresponding period last year.
The rate of charge point installations has experienced a substantial upswing throughout 2023, with an average of 1,625 new chargers being deployed each month. Comparatively, the figures for the same period in 2022 amounted to 914 new chargers per month, while the entire year of 2022 averaged at 1,115 new chargers per month.
Moreover, the data highlights the growth in ultra-rapid charging points, capable of delivering a full charge in as little as 20 minutes. A total of 655 new ultra-rapid chargers were installed, with a total of 2,869 now available across the UK. This represents a 25% increase in new rapid chargers since the start of 2023 and a surge of 79% compared to the same period last year.
The deployment of fast chargers and slower chargers has also expanded. An additional 3,415 fast chargers came into operation, while 1,828 slower chargers designed for residential streets and workplaces were added to the network. There are now 42,556 public chargers in use throughout the UK.
ChargeUK, a collaborative effort by 19 leading companies responsible for the UK’s charging infrastructure, was launched in April. The consortium announced an impressive £6 billion investment plan and a commitment to double the number of charge points within the span of 12 months.
Despite the increase in charge points, the RAC recently published a study suggesting the UK will miss its 2023 EV charge point installation target.
Melanie Shufflebotham, COO and co-founder at Zapmap, said: “The charger rollout is gathering pace both with high-powered chargers to support en-route charging, and also more local charging where it is needed to support charging closer to home. Evidence suggests that this is set to continue across 2023, which is good news for EV drivers and those thinking about going electric.”
Chair of ChargeUK, Ian Johnston, said: “The rate of deployment is increasing month-on-month but we can go much faster with the right policies and help from Government to remove the barriers that are currently constraining the roll-out.
“These new statistics combined with the investment the members of ChargeUK have already committed to confirm the UK’s position as one of the best places in the world to run and charge an electric vehicle. We must maintain that advantage in the global marketplace and in the race to Net Zero.”
