🚘 Introduction: EV Charging Is Powering Ahead
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is no longer on the horizon — it's here. As more UK drivers switch to cleaner transport, the need for a robust, reliable, and widespread charging infrastructure has never been greater. Fortunately, the numbers show a charging boom is underway. This article takes a deep dive into the availability of EV chargers in 2025 and how rapidly they’re being rolled out.
🔢 How Many EV Chargers Are Available in the UK in 2025?
As of June 2025, the UK boasts an impressive 82,369 public charging devices spread across 40,479 locations. These stations house over 110,000 EVSE units and nearly 117,000 connectors, providing growing coverage for electric vehicle owners throughout the country.
This marks a 30% increase year-on-year, showing that the country is making significant progress in meeting climate targets and supporting EV adoption.
| Year | Public Chargers | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,460 | - |
| 2023 | 53,865 | +89% |
| 2024 | 73,000 | +35% |
| 2025 | 82,369 | +13% (H1) |
In 2021, the infrastructure was still in its early development phase, with fewer than 30,000 public chargers nationwide. But by 2023, the network had nearly doubled, spurred by both public funding and major private investments from companies like Shell, BP Pulse, and InstaVolt.
By the end of 2024, the number surged to 73,000, fueled by the growing adoption of electric vehicles, especially in urban centres. That represented a 35% jump in just one year. The acceleration didn't slow in 2025 either — with over 82,000 devices already installed by mid-year, putting the UK well on track to exceed 90,000 by year-end.
This upward trend showcases a clear commitment to creating a robust and future-proof EV ecosystem. Importantly, these figures reflect not only the increase in quantity but also the diversification in speed, type, and geographic reach of charging stations.
⚡ Types of Chargers: How Fast Can You Charge?
| Charger Type | Speed (kW) | Share of Network |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 3–8 kW | ~54% |
| Fast | 8–49 kW | ~26% |
| Rapid | 50–149 kW | ~10% |
| Ultra‑Rapid | 150+ kW | ~11% |
Beyond the Numbers: What Do These Speeds Mean in Practice?
-
Slow chargers (3–8 kW) are ideal for overnight or destination charging—like at home or at workplaces—often requiring many hours to fully charge an EV battery.
-
Fast chargers (8–49 kW) are good for destination stops and shopping trips, offering 3–6 hours of charging time—practical for typical daily use.
-
Rapid chargers (50–149 kW) greatly reduce the wait time, typically enabling 60–80% charge in 30 minutes to an hour, ideal for motorway stops and convenience plazas.
-
Ultra‑rapid chargers (150 kW+) deliver a high-volume charge in a short window—commonly adding around 200 miles of range in just 15–20 minutes, depending on vehicle capabilities.
📈 Ultra‑Rapid Expansion: Charging at High Speed
In the first half of 2025, the UK saw an addition of 1,598 new ultra‑rapid chargers, pushing the total number of 150 kW+ devices to 8,619—a 23% increase from June 2024. For the first time, ultra‑rapid chargers now outnumber standard rapid units in the public network.
Zap‑Map reports that the total number of rapid and ultra‑rapid EV charging devices has grown from 5,087 in 2021, to 10,118 in 2023, then to 14,471 in December 2024, and reached 16,698 by June 2025—a 33% year‑on‑year increase.
Network rollout is becoming more geographically balanced too: nine out of twelve UK regions now have at least 1,200 devices rated 50 kW+, and six of those regions exceed 1,500. Scotland saw 29% growth, and the North West around 21% in high-powered charger rollout.
🚗 Why Ultra‑Rapid Matters to Drivers
-
Reduced Range Anxiety: Ultra‑rapid chargers can deliver a substantial top-up in just minutes—ideal for long-distance travel and motorway stops.
-
Travel Convenience: Charging hubs like the InstaVolt Superhub near the M3 offer up to 44 ultra‑rapid bays (160 kW each), enabling a full top-up in around 20 minutes—plus amenities for drivers.
-
Smart Site Development: Companies such as Source EV (Edinburgh Ocean Terminal), E.ON (300 kW hubs in Scotland), and supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s (Smart Charge) are building ultra‑rapid sites with multiple bays—often in retail or motorway locations catering to diverse user needs.
📍 Where Are the Chargers? Regional Coverage in the UK
While the UK’s public EV charging infrastructure has expanded significantly, its distribution is still highly uneven. Charging availability remains concentrated in metropolitan regions, leaving many smaller towns and rural communities trailing behind.
🔝 Top Regions by Charger Count (June 2025):
-
London: ~24,429 devices — by far the most, thanks to high population density, extensive public investment, and local authority partnerships with networks like Shell Recharge ubitricity.
-
South East England: ~10,654 devices — strong rollout driven by urban centres like Brighton and Reading, as well as retail-linked installations.
-
West Midlands: ~7,662 devices — includes Birmingham and Coventry, with growing adoption supported by Connected Kerb and Pod Point.
These regions benefit from well-funded local EV strategies, dense populations, and proximity to high-traffic routes.
Regional Gaps and Inequalities:
By contrast, EV charger availability remains low in several key northern and coastal cities. Based on the number of devices per 100,000 residents:
-
Liverpool: ~2 chargers per 100k people — one of the lowest densities in the UK.
-
Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle: All below national average charger availability, posing a challenge for local adoption.
-
Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Stoke-on-Trent: Also fall behind in access, despite efforts to electrify council fleets.
🏙️ Small Cities Punching Above Their Weight:
Interestingly, Ripon and Salisbury lead the way in charger availability relative to population, offering 40–60 devices per 100k residents. These towns have embraced the on-street and destination charger model, often through government-supported trials like the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).
🌐 A South-East Heavy Network:
Nearly 50% of all public chargers are located in London and the South East, creating a highly centralized infrastructure. Regions such as Northern Ireland, the North East, and parts of Wales are still lagging behind. This geographical imbalance means that range anxiety and charging challenges persist for drivers outside affluent or urbanized areas.
🛠️ Bridging the Regional Divide:
To address this gap, the UK government launched the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, distributing £450 million to help councils plan and deliver chargers in underserved communities. Key objectives include:
-
Reaching drivers without off-street parking
-
Focusing on lower-income areas
-
Ensuring rural towns aren’t left behind in the EV transition
Local authorities in Cumbria, Lincolnshire, and Cornwall have already received substantial allocations and begun planning large-scale on-street and hub installations to decentralize EV access.
🏭 Who’s Leading the Charge? Charger Network Providers
Several key players dominate the public EV charging landscape in the UK:
🔋 Tesla Supercharger
Tesla’s Supercharger network offers ultra-rapid charging—often up to 250 kW—originally exclusive to Tesla vehicles, but now open to non-Tesla EVs at many hubs. The interface is seamless, speeds are high, and real-time availability helps minimise queues. Tesla consistently ranks top in user satisfaction in UK surveys.
BP Pulse
Formerly Chargemaster and Polar, BP Pulse remains one of the largest UK charging operators, offering a mix of slow, fast (22 kW), and rapid (50 kW+) chargers. As of 2024–2025, it operates over 8,000 charge points, including upwards of 1,400 high-speed units.
InstaVolt
A popular pay-as-you-go network, InstaVolt specialises in rapid charging units (50–160 kW). It’s well-known for convenience, user‑friendly pricing, and visible deployment in motorway-side clusters and fast food retailer car parks. Pricing tiers vary between peak and off‑peak hours.
Shell Recharge ubitricity
Operating largely as lamp-post-based on-street chargers in urban areas, Shell Recharge (formerly ubitricity) leads in accessible community charging. It remains the network with the largest count of public charge points in the UK.
Connected Kerb
Focused on neighborhood and residential charging, Connected Kerb installs dedicated curbside chargers, especially in street-access-only environments. They aim to install 190,000 on-street points by 2030 and are known for integrating charging with digital infrastructure.
Pod Point
Mainly a destination charging provider, Pod Point installs fast chargers (typically ~22 kW) at retail parks, supermarkets, hotels and workplaces. It's particularly strong in supermarket car parks like Tesco and has a reputation for convenience.
How Quickly Are New Chargers Being Installed?
The pace of public EV charger installation in the UK has reached record-breaking speeds in 2025, driven by increased government funding, strategic private investment, and growing consumer demand for electric vehicles. The rollout of chargers—especially ultra-rapid models—is now a central piece of the UK’s green transport agenda.
Installations in H1 2025 (January–June):
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total New Chargers Installed | 8,670 |
| Ultra-Rapid Chargers (150+ kW) | 1,291 |
| Devices Installed in June Alone | 1,371 |
| New Charging Hubs (6+ rapid units) | 673 (25% ↑ YoY) |
This means an average of 1,445 new chargers were installed each month in the first half of 2025—roughly 48 chargers per day. The trend shows no sign of slowing, with monthly installation rates outpacing even 2024’s record year.
Growth Over Time:
Comparing previous years:
-
2023: ~13,000 new chargers added (~1,083/month)
-
2024: ~19,834 chargers installed (up 53% from 2023)
-
2025 (H1): Already over 43% of 2024's total added within six months
If this pace continues, the UK will surpass 90,000 public chargers before the end of 2025, well ahead of projected milestones.
What's Next? The Future of EV Charging in the UK
The future is looking even brighter:
-
Government LEVI Scheme: £450 million in funding to expand chargers for people without driveways.
-
Private Investment Surge: Major energy and automotive brands are scaling up deployments.
-
Regulatory Support: EU rules (AFIR) require high-speed chargers every 60km by 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of June 2025, there are 82,369 public charging devices across over 40,000 locations.
Roughly 8,670 new chargers were added in the first half of 2025, including a 58% increase in ultra-rapid devices.
Yes. While they make up about 11% of devices, they account for over 60% of total charging capacity.
Infrastructure has been prioritized in urban centers. Rural and low-income areas often receive less investment.
Tesla, InstaVolt, BP Pulse, Pod Point, Shell Recharge, and Connected Kerb lead the UK market.
Yes in most cities. However, issues with reliability, rural access, and charger compatibility still exist.
Conclusion: The EV Revolution Is Accelerating
With tens of thousands of new chargers added annually and continued investment pouring in from both public and private sectors, the UK is on track to support mass EV adoption. While regional disparities and user experience issues remain, the momentum is undeniable. For drivers already behind the wheel of an electric vehicle—or thinking about making the switch—charging access is more widespread and reliable than ever.