Zapmap's breakdown of free charging devices, updated on 11 May 2026, puts the number of free-to-use public charge points at 1,837 as of May 20251. Carwow, reporting the same Zapmap figure, describes it as "a significant decline from previous years"3. Zapmap states that "the number of free charge points has decreased significantly over the past few years"2, attributing this to the cost of electricity and the growing number of EV drivers making free charging difficult to sustain1.
The two sources give different totals for the wider public charging network. On Zapmap's figure, free devices amount to around 2% of all charging points1.
Free chargers are unevenly spread. The South East has the most at 249, followed by Greater London at 214 and Scotland at 1963. Greater London's 214 free chargers are only 1% of its total devices, which Zapmap links to a high concentration of paid on-street and rapid chargers in the capital1.
| Area | Free chargers |
|---|---|
| South East | 249 |
| Greater London | 214 |
| Scotland | 196 |
| East of England | 163 |
| South West | 157 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 157 |
| West Midlands | 149 |
| North West | 135 |
| Channel Islands | 124 |
| Wales | 118 |
| East Midlands | 77 |
| North East | 67 |
| Northern Ireland | 18 |
| Isle of Man | 5 |
Source: Zapmap, via Carwow3
Most free devices are slow. Zapmap counts 1,180 standard chargers rated under 8kW, more than 64% of the free total1. Carwow gives a slightly different split, saying 1,254 slow chargers make up over 66% of the free network3. Zapmap records 60 standard plus and rapid chargers still free, about 3% of free devices, mostly at dealerships with restricted access1. Carwow puts the number of free rapid chargers at 85, also largely at dealerships3.
By location, accommodation sites including hotels and B&Bs have the most free devices at 352, followed by car dealership forecourts at 3183. Zapmap groups public, retail and workplace car parks together at 500 free devices1. Carwow reports 252 free chargers at car parks3. Both note that many free chargers carry access restrictions, such as customer-only use, and that parking charges may still apply3.
Why it matters for households
Free public charging has never been the main route to low-cost motoring for a household with off-street parking, and this data shows it is becoming less reliable as a fallback. The free devices that remain are mostly slow chargers suited to overnight stays rather than quick top-ups, and many sit behind customer-only rules at hotels, attractions and dealerships3. For a home weighing up an electric car, the practical base of public EV charging is now paid, and the cost comparison that matters is between public charging prices and charging at home. Home charging also sits outside the VAT difference that applies to public networks. Households with solar and a home charger can shift more of their motoring onto their own supply, which is the part of EV charging and energy independence a household controls directly. The wider charging device statistics show a network growing overall while the free portion shrinks.
What happens next
Zapmap notes that most free charge points are run by smaller independent businesses for which it does not receive live data, relying instead on driver updates, and asks users to report chargers that are no longer free1. No further decline figures or future free-charger totals have been reported.