Latest data from charge-point mapping service Zapmap has shown how the roll out of charging infrastructure is continuing to accelerate as more and more people switch to electric vehicles.
The figures from the Zapmap database at the end of December 2025 showed that 14,097 new charge-points were installed throughout 2025. In total, the UK’s EV charging infrastructure now encompasses 87,796 devices at 45,033 locations, it added, with these spanning en-route, destination and on-street charging. The new installations represent a year-on-year increase of 19.1%.
The highest growth continued to be seen in ultra-rapid devices delivering charging speeds of 150kW and above, as well as in charging hubs typically located along the strategic road network and designed for drivers looking to recharge their vehicle as quickly as possible on longer journeys.
There are now 9,893 chargers in this power band, 41% more than in December 2024, said Zapmap.
The number of charging hubs across the country (defined as six or more rapid or ultra-rapid devices at a single location) now stood at 748, an increase of 39% over the past 12 months.
Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and chief operating officer at Zapmap, said: ‘As we move into 2026, we look forward to LEVI fund awards translating from contracts into near-home charging provision, to increase equitable access for those without access to off-street parking.
‘As the government’s dedicated innovation fund to address concerns around timely access to grid connections takes effect, we can expect to see benefits to the charging infrastructure both in congested, high-demand areas and rural areas with limited grid infrastructure,’ she added.
The Zapmap data has been complemented by figures from uSwitch showing that electric cars accounted for more than a fifth (21.6%) of new car sales in the UK in the first half of 2025, with demand for fast, efficient public EV charging points never higher.
Yet, despite the acceleration of the roll out of EV charging infrastructure, 18% of people still cite a lack of available public charging points as their main reason for not purchasing an EV.
The UK EV charging industry was worth more than £620m in 2024 and was projected to be worth £9.68bn by 2030, uSwitch said.
As of July last year, Shell Recharge Ubitricity had the most public EV chargers of any company, with 10,597 charging devices. Greater London was responsible for around 30% of all public EV charging devices in the UK, it added.
The data has come as the Department for Transport (DfT) over the autumn unveiled a range of reforms designed to accelerate take-up of cross-pavement EV charging.
These included mandating charge-points in new covered car parks and consulting on removing planning permission currently needed for those without driveways to install cross-pavement charging gullies.
Residents could save up to £250 on application fees, with wider proposals to help renters and leaseholders install chargers, the DfT announced.
The changes, it argued, would also enable more households to run electric vehicles for as little as 2p per mile.
Separately, the government has also announced a new £10m funding competition to increase EV charging capacity on the England’s strategic road network.
However, anyone wanting to enter should not delay, as the deadline for competition closes at 11am on Wednesday 25 March.
The scheme, announced by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), is designed totest novel whole systems concepts in a real-world setting while addressing EV charging power challenges along the strategic road network (SRN) in England.
Any solution should enable at least 12 EVs (primarily cars and vans) to access ultra rapid (150kW or more) charging at SRN sites on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads (APTRs) in England.
It should build sector capability and foster a shared focus on improving EV charging infrastructure.
It should be able to widely disseminate learning, which can then enable industry to address power, grid and operational challenges to EV charging provision, OZEV added.
Finally, the Highway Electrical Association has published new guidance January to address, and explain, touch potentials within EV charging, as well as set out risk mitigation strategies.
The guidance, ‘Guidance Note on EV Charge Point Touch Potential‘, covers what touch potential is, why it occurs and why it is dangerous. It consider how this risk can apply to EV charging infrastructure, the standards and safety requirements that are in place, and mitigation strategies.
- Full details on the EV funding competition can be found at: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2304/overview/9ea6670e-83fd-43f9-972f-e0eff8fe77a8
Look out in the March edition of Lighting Journal for a special 15-page focus on EV charging.
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