Zapmap, which describes itself as the UK's leading charge point mapping service, published year-end figures for 2023 on 8 January 2024 showing the total number of UK public charging points rose 45 per cent over the year, from 37,261 at the end of December 2022 to 53,906 at the end of December 20231. The growth rate was up from 31 per cent across 2021 to 2022, and the pace of installation nearly doubled, from 730 net new devices a month in 2022 to almost 1,400 a month in 2023, a rise of 89 per cent1.
The UK passed 50,000 public charging points in October 2023, having passed 40,000 in February 20231. Growth was fastest among the most powerful devices: ultra-rapid chargers of 100kW or more rose 112 per cent, from 2,295 to 4,869, and now make up 46 per cent of high-powered devices, against 20 per cent at the end of 20201. High-powered chargers as a whole, classed as rapid (25kW to 99kW) and ultra-rapid, grew 52 per cent to almost 10,500 devices across more than 5,000 locations1. Charging hubs, defined as sites with six or more rapid or ultra-rapid devices, rose 145 per cent, from 108 to 264, and only 20 per cent are at motorway services1.
| Power rating | End December 2022 | End December 2023 | Year-on-year growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow (under 7kW) | 8,932 | 14,746 | 65% |
| Fast (7kW to 22kW) | 21,427 | 28,663 | 34% |
| Rapid (25kW to 99kW) | 4,607 | 5,628 | 22% |
| Ultra-rapid (100kW and above) | 2,295 | 4,869 | 112% |
| Total | 37,261 | 53,906 | 45% |
| Charging hubs (six or more rapid or ultra-rapid devices) | 108 | 264 | 145% |
On-street chargers, the low-powered devices used by drivers without a home chargepoint, grew 72 per cent over the year, though Zapmap describes the rollout as regionally patchy1. High-powered charger growth was uneven by area, from 13.7 per cent in Scotland to 283.3 per cent in Northern Ireland, the latter from a low base of 24 devices1. Zapmap said allocations were made in 2023 under the government's £450m LEVI scheme for local authorities, and expects further developments in 20241.
"Overall 2023 was a good year for EV charging with the rate of installation showing record growth, particularly for the higher powered chargers to support EV drivers on longer journeys."
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric car, the figures describe the public network that sits behind home charging. Most home charging is done off-street at lower rates, but the public network is what covers longer journeys and, for the roughly one third of households without off-street parking, everyday charging. The 112 per cent rise in ultra-rapid devices, which Zapmap says can add roughly 100 miles of charge in about 15 minutes, and the 145 per cent rise in hubs, speak to journey charging rather than the street-level charging that matters most to drivers without a driveway1. On-street devices grew 72 per cent but remain unevenly distributed, so the practical picture still varies by area1. Public charging is also subject to a higher rate of VAT than home charging, which affects the cost comparison between the two.
What happens next
Zapmap expects further developments in 2024 under the LEVI scheme, following the allocations made to local authorities in 20231. Ian Johnston, Chair of Charge UK, said the industry body's members "will spend £6 billion before 2030" on charging infrastructure and intend to go "even further and faster this year"1. No further dated commitments are given in the figures.
Sources1 cited
- 2023 EOY charging stats release, zap-map.com