The electric vehicle charging industry is rapidly growing as the UK pushes toward its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. As of 2024, the EV charging sector is expected to reach a value of £3.9 billion by 2030, showing significant growth this decade.
In April 2024, the UK had 61,232 public EV charging points, marking a 53% jump from the previous year. Shell Recharge leads the market with 8,698 public charging stations, while London accounts for nearly a third of all public chargers with 221 devices per 100,000 residents.
Most public chargers in the UK are slow, with nearly 59% operating under 8 kWh. However, ultra-rapid chargers (150 kWh or more) are also increasing, totalling 4,988. Charging costs as of March 2024 average 56p per kWh for slower chargers, while ultra-rapid ones cost around 81p per kWh.
EV adoption in the UK continues to rise, with about 1.1 million fully electric cars on the road as of April 2024—up 13% from the previous year. Early 2024 also saw plug-in vehicles (including hybrids) make up 23.5% of new car registrations. At the same time, around 400,000 home charging points are installed, with 80% of EV owners using them. Installing a home charger averages about £1,000.
Globally, the demand for more EV infrastructure is increasing. According to Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), governments and businesses must support clean energy transitions. The benefits range from new job opportunities and cleaner air to a safer climate. The IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024 report emphasises the need for policy reforms and financial support to make EVs more affordable and to expand charging infrastructure to meet rising demand.
In the UK, 93% of EV owners have access to home charging, and over half use smart chargers. While home charging dominates, public infrastructure is crucial for wider EV adoption. Globally, public chargers increased by 40% in 2023, with China leading, accounting for 85% of fast chargers and 60% of slow chargers.
Countries are taking different approaches to meet the growing need for EV infrastructure. The European Union’s AFIR regulation requires fast chargers every 60km along major roads, and the U.S. plans to install 500,000 public chargers by 2030. Canada aims to have 33,500 charging ports by 2026. Emerging technologies like battery swapping and electric road systems (ERS) are also being explored, with China leading in battery swapping and Sweden and France working on ERS.
The IEA also stresses the importance of aligning EV charger deployment with power grid upgrades to handle future demand, using strategies like time-of-use tariffs and smart charging.
The data from 2024 showcases the exciting advancements in EV charging infrastructure, both in the UK and globally, as the world moves toward a greener future.
