UK Sets Record with Installation of 16,000 Public Electric Car Chargers in 2023

In 2023, the UK set a record by installing nearly 16,000 new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers, expanding the network to over 53,200 and doubling the ultra-rapid chargers for extended trips. This increase, a 43% jump compared to 2022, outpaced the growth of EV sales, which rose by 28%.

The expansion is crucial as governments worldwide transition from fossil fuel vehicles to electric, with the UK aiming for 80% electric car sales by 2030, despite a delayed ban on new petrol and diesel cars until 2035.

The surge in chargers, especially the "ultra-rapid" ones which doubled to 4,600, is seen as essential to alleviate "range anxiety," a common concern about finding charging stations. Over 10,000 rapid chargers are now installed across 5,000 UK locations, said ZapMap COO Melanie Shufflebotham, accessible in varied places from motorway services to retail car parks.

EV industry experts, including EV charger provider CEO Andy Palmer, stress the importance of charger visibility to assure drivers for long-distance travel, with more chargers needed even as car ranges exceed 200 miles. While the UK's former Prime Minister Boris Johnson set a 300,000 charger goal by 2030, charger installation may face hurdles due to location saturation and slow electric grid upgrades. There are significant regional disparities, with Northern Ireland having notably fewer chargers per capita than other areas like London, which leads with 193 per 100,000 people.