The UK's public electric vehicle charging network grew to more than 73,000 charge points, a 35.5 per cent increase since 2023, according to an account published in March 20251. Investment exceeding £500 million over the previous 18 months was directed at improving accessibility, particularly in under-served areas such as rural regions1.
The same account states that the UK recorded the most battery electric vehicle registrations of any European country in 2024, and that almost 20 per cent of new cars registered towards the end of that year were fully electric1. It also cites a forecast that the UK is on track for 300,000 public chargers by 20301.
Later figures put the network higher. ChargeUK, an industry body, said that as of September 2025 there were 85,000 public charge points, alongside more than a million charge points at homes and workplaces2. It said the sector is investing £6 billion to grow the public network by around 30 per cent a year2. The two counts are not directly comparable: the 73,000 figure is given as a position in early 2025, the 85,000 figure as a position in September 20252.
ChargeUK's report, 'Delivering Affordable Charging for All', drew on analysis by Cornwall Insight and set out three steps for government: tackling operators' energy costs, adding EV charging to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation scheme, and cutting VAT on public charging to 5 per cent2. It said average public charging prices rose 38 per cent between 2021/22 and 2024/25, and that standing charges rose by up to 462 per cent at rapid and ultra-rapid sites and 389 per cent at slow and fast sites2.
"If the Government wishes to ensure that cost of charging does not become a barrier to millions more drivers switching to EVs, it needs to take action, to tackle sky-high energy costs, to address the VAT penalty and to introduce EV charging to its existing renewable fuel credit scheme."
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric car, the size of the public network matters most if the home has nowhere to plug in. ChargeUK states that one in three households lacks access to home charging, and that public charging carries VAT at 20 per cent against 5 per cent for home charging, a difference it calculates costs those drivers an additional £145 a year2. Its figures show public charging prices rose 38 per cent on average between 2021/22 and 2024/252. The same report states that 80 per cent of people buying an EV in 2025 will save money against an equivalent petrol car, with average savings of £5,850 over the term of ownership2.
Where a home does have off-street parking, the public network is a backup rather than the main supply, and the home versus public charging cost gap is the figure that shapes running costs. For homes without a driveway, the practical question is the density and reliability of public charging nearby, and the rates charged at those points. Charging speed also determines whether a public point can substitute for an overnight charge at home; the differences between slow, fast and rapid units are set out in charging speeds and times. The charging device statistics page tracks the network counts as they are published.
What happens next
ChargeUK's three requests were put to government in September 2025; no response is recorded in the material published at that time2. The 2030 date for phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars is cited by ChargeUK as the deadline shaping its case2. The forecast of 300,000 public chargers by 2030 is attributed to a third-party projection rather than a confirmed target1.
Sources2 cited
- Why are more UK consumers choosing electric cars?, electroverse.com
- Action on high energy costs needed to keep EV transition on track, chargeuk.org