ChargeUK launched in April 2023, bringing together 19 companies responsible for the UK's charging infrastructure. At the time of launch the group announced £6 billion of investment and plans to double the number of charge points in 12 months1.
The launch was reported alongside charging statistics from Zapmap, an independent mapping service for electric vehicle infrastructure. Those figures show 2,080 new charge points were switched on in April 2023, and over 6,400 so far in 2023, an increase of 14% in net new chargers since the beginning of the year and 35% since the same time in 20221. There are now 42,556 public chargers in use in the UK1.
The installation rate has risen. An average of 1,625 new chargers were installed each month in 2023 to date, against 914 per month across the same period in 2022 and 1,115 per month across the whole of 2022. The average number of new chargers installed per month in 2023 to date is 75% higher than the same period in 20221.
By charger type, the figures record 655 new ultra rapid charging points, which can deliver a full charge in as little as 20 minutes, bringing the total to 2,869. That is a 25% increase in net new chargers since the beginning of 2023 and 79% higher than a year earlier. A further 3,415 fast chargers, typically found in car parks or destinations, and 1,828 slower chargers used in residential streets and workplaces also came on stream1.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| New charge points, April 2023 | 2,080 |
| New charge points, 2023 to date | Over 6,400 |
| Total public chargers in use | 42,556 |
| Average new chargers per month, 2023 to date | 1,625 |
| Average new chargers per month, same period 2022 | 914 |
| Average new chargers per month, whole of 2022 | 1,115 |
| New ultra rapid chargers | 655 |
| Total ultra rapid chargers | 2,869 |
| New fast chargers | 3,415 |
| New slower chargers | 1,828 |
"These figures show the huge step-up in deployment of EV charging infrastructure that is underway in 2023, which will give further confidence to those considering making the switch to an electric vehicle. 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."
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric vehicle, the practical question is whether charging away from home is reliable enough to depend on. The figures describe a network that grew by 35% in a year, with the fastest growth in ultra rapid chargers suited to longer journeys and additional slower units in residential streets and workplaces, the locations closest to how most homes charge1. The split matters because a home without off-street parking depends on public infrastructure for routine charging, not just for occasional long trips. The rules that apply to home charge points, including the smart charge point regulations, sit alongside this public network rather than replacing it. What the figures do not show is how the chargers are distributed by region, how many are working at any given time, or what they cost to use; none of that has been reported here. Households comparing public EV charging networks, payment methods and access rules will find the practical detail in that area rather than in installation totals.
What happens next
ChargeUK said at launch it planned to double the number of charge points in 12 months1. No further dated commitments from the group are given in the figures.