Shortfall in public chargers slows UK electric vehicle uptake, industry warns

A slowdown in the rollout of public charging points is tamping demand for electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, industry figures say, with the current pace of installations falling far short of that needed to hit government targets.

Only 1,234 public chargers were installed across the UK in August, the equivalent of about 40 a day, according to industry tracking. That is well below the roughly 130 a day needed to reach the government’s stated goal of 300,000 public charging points by 2030, and data from Zapmap suggests the rollout is slowing rather than accelerating.

Installations so far this year total 11,464, or about 47 per day on average, compared with a daily average of 54 last year. Industry observers say the shortfall is most acute for drivers who cannot charge at home because they lack off-street parking, a group that officials and manufacturers say is particularly sensitive to concerns about where and how affordably they can top up batteries.

There are 85,163 public charging points currently listed in the UK, but public charging is often more expensive than home charging, a dynamic that can penalise drivers without private chargers. A survey conducted by insurer Direct Line found drivers wait an average of 22 minutes to use a public charging point; the company said some motorists have waited as long as two hours at high-demand locations such as motorway service stations during busy periods.

"Concern about the ability to charge affordably whenever needed is one of the main barriers to greater EV adoption, especially for those reliant on public charging," a spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. The spokesman added that the government’s recent £63 million investment to support at-home charging for households without driveways "aims to address this" and that further action to accelerate infrastructure rollout would broaden EV ownership.

Tom Pakenham, commercial director at charger operator Hive, said the shift to electric vehicle ownership is proceeding but "the shortage of reliable and affordable public charging points in some places remains a real challenge, particularly for people in cities without access to off-street parking." He warned that uneven availability could influence purchasing decisions and slow overall adoption.

Ministers have announced funding measures aimed at increasing access for households without driveways and easing range anxiety, and the Department for Transport said it is investing more than £4 billion to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Industry groups and operators say that while public and private investment is under way, the speed of infrastructure deployment must rise to match vehicle uptake.

Analysts note the difference between current installation rates and the trajectory needed to meet the 2030 public charger target means policymakers face a choice of boosting incentives, streamlining planning and grid-connection approvals, and prioritising locations that serve drivers without private charging options. Without a material acceleration in installations, planners say, the uneven distribution of chargers and higher costs of public charging are likely to remain barriers for sections of the population.

The figures and comments come as the UK pursues broader climate targets that include a shift away from petrol and diesel vehicles. Government and industry groups say expanding the charging network is central to that transition, but the latest data and surveys point to operational and affordability challenges that will need to be addressed to maintain momentum in EV uptake.