There are now more electric vehicle charging locations in the UK than the number of fuel stations, according to new data.
Numbers from Zap-Map, an online aid to locating electric charging points, show that 8,471 plug-in locations open to the public were available across the UK as of May 22. In contrast, figures from the Experian Catalist Market Summary Report published in April 2019 state that 8,400 fuel filling stations are currently in operation across the UK.
Zap-Map has recorded a 57% increase in the number of EV chargers over the last 12 months, with the number of plug-in cars rising from 3,500 in 2013 to more than 210,000 today.
According to Ben Lane, co-founder of Zap-Map, the public and private sectors are now investing heavily in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure to ensure that there are sufficient charging points to support the growing electric fleet.
“This month’s milestone reveals the rapid pace of change already underway as the age of the combustion engine gives way to an all-electric era with vehicles offering both zero emissions and a better driving experience,” Lane says.
Government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will in the UK from 2040 are intended to propel a switch to electric, with at least a million EVs forecasted to be on the country’s roads by the end of 2022.
However, the move to electric has not been considered universally positive. Recent cuts in grants to buy plug-in cars have been criticised, as have aspects of the UK plug-in charging network. A variety of charging methods causes confusion to potential EV buyers, while others have found the reliability of chargers wanting, particularly on motorways.
