The disparity in the number of EV chargers between the south of England and the rest of the country has continued to widen, as shown by recent figures from the Department for Transport (DfT). Over the past year, the majority of the 20,612 new chargers installed were in London. The capital saw a growth from 152 chargers per 100,000 people to 234 per 100,000, a significant increase of 154%.
The West Midlands, although not in the south, saw the biggest growth after London, with a 92% increase from 59 chargers per 100,000 to 92 chargers per 100,000. This region was the only one outside of London to break the 80 chargers per 100,000 mark.
On the other hand, the North East, which was the second-best catered region outside of London last year with 63 chargers per 100,000, now ranks fifth with 72 chargers per 100,000. The South East and South West also saw growth, with the former increasing from 61 to 82 chargers per 100,000, and the latter increasing from 51 to 80 chargers per 100,000. These numbers clearly illustrate the growing contrast in EV charger availability between the south and the rest of the country.
The regions with the lowest number of chargers include Yorkshire (56 per 100,000), the North West (60 per 100,000), and the East Midlands (63 per 100,000). The East region closely follows with 70 chargers per 100,000. Notably, the North East is the only region that has seen a decrease in charger numbers since April, with a decrease of 1.2% or 23 chargers. In contrast, London experienced a significant increase of 1238 chargers during the same period.
The growing regional disparity in EV charger availability has raised concerns, leading Autocar to contact the DfT for clarification on their plans to address the issue. SMMT chief Mike Hawes, a vocal supporter of regional charging parity, emphasized the importance of increasing charge-point accessibility to encourage more consumers to switch to electric vehicles. He called for an acceleration in the roll-out of chargers across every region in the country.
According to the DfT’s data, there are now 64,632 chargers installed across the UK, representing a 47% increase from July 2023. Of these chargers, 19% are fast chargers (50kW or more), 60% are slow chargers (between 3kW and 8kW), and only 8% fall into the fastest category (150kW-plus).
The data also reveals that there was only an 8% increase in charger numbers since April, indicating a slowdown likely caused by the general election. The new Labour government has pledged in its manifesto to support EV buyers by accelerating the roll-out of charge points. One area that requires attention is the installation of “en route” chargers, particularly on motorways, which currently make up just 6% of all chargers in the UK. In contrast, on-street and “destination” chargers, found in places like hotels, shops, and car parks, account for 85% of all chargers.
However, the Labour government’s pledge to support the roll-out of charge points could face challenges due to new chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent announcement. She stated that £1 billion of “unfunded” transport pledges for next year are under scrutiny. This announcement raises concerns about the government’s ability to fulfill its promise if the necessary funds are not available.
In conclusion, the regional disparity in EV charger availability in the UK, with London leading the way, continues to be a cause for concern. The DfT’s data shows that efforts to address this issue have been slow, with a minimal increase in charger numbers since April. The new Labour government’s promise to accelerate the roll-out of charge points, particularly “en route” chargers, is crucial for promoting electric vehicle adoption. However, the recent announcement regarding potential funding challenges raises doubts about the government’s ability to fulfill this promise. It is essential that every region in the country has access to an adequate number of chargers to ensure that every driver has the confidence to switch to electric vehicles.