Charging Up
UK public EV charging network passes 120,000 milestone with ultra-rapid charger growth accelerating too
The UK’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure has passed another major milestone.
There are now more than 120,000 public chargers available for the first time in Britain.
Itb comes as investment in ultra-rapid charging continues to surge.
Current reality
New figures published by Zapmap show there were 120,388 public EV chargers installed across the UK by the end of April, following the addition of 1,308 net new devices during the month.
The latest total represents year-on-year growth of almost 11%, up from 108,819 chargers recorded in April 2025, underlining the rapid expansion of the country’s charging network as EV adoption continues to rise.
The symbolic 120,000th charger was installed at Lydford Gorge and operated by Raw Charging as part of its partnership with the National Trust.
Neil Broadbank, chief commercial officer at Raw Charging, described the milestone as evidence that the UK charging market is “maturing at pace”.
“Surpassing 120,000 public EV chargers is a remarkable milestone for the UK and a clear signal that the nation’s charging infrastructure is maturing at pace,” he said.
“We remain focused on deploying high-quality charging at locations that matter most to drivers, and with recent UK-wide rollouts announced, we’re proud to play our part in accelerating the UK’s transition to electric mobility.”
Fast push
The strongest area of growth continues to be ultra-rapid chargers, capable of delivering charging speeds of 150kW or more.
Zapmap’s figures show the number of ultra-rapid devices increased by almost 40% year-on-year, rising from 9,547 units in April 2025 to 13,346 in April 2026.
These chargers can typically recharge a modern EV battery from 20% to 80% in around 20 to 30 minutes, making them particularly important for motorway journeys and fleet operators requiring minimal downtime.
By contrast, growth in slower charging categories was more modest.
Standard chargers rated between 3kW and 7kW rose by 11.1%, while “standard plus” chargers between 8kW and 49kW increased by 6.3%.
The number of rapid chargers between 50kW and 149kW declined slightly over the year as investment increasingly shifted towards ultra-rapid infrastructure.
| Power Rating Group | EV chargers end April 2025 | EV chargers end April 2026 | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (3-7kW) | 54,156 | 60,178 | 11.12% |
| Standard Plus (8-49kW) | 30,226 | 32,121 | 6.27% |
| Rapid (50-149kW) | 14,890 | 14,743 | -0.99% |
| Ultra-Rapid (150kW+) | 9,547 | 13,346 | 39.79% |
| All | 108,819 | 120,388 | 10.63% |
About the numbers
The data also highlighted another milestone for the UK charging network: the number of EV charging hubs with eight or more rapid or ultra-rapid chargers in a single location has now surpassed 1,000 for the first time.
Zapmap recorded 1,004 such hubs at the end of April, up almost 25% compared with the 805 sites recorded a year earlier.
These larger charging hubs are increasingly being located on or near the strategic road network to support long-distance travel and improve confidence among EV drivers.
Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and chief operating officer at Zapmap, said the expanding network was helping reassure drivers considering the switch to electric vehicles.
“The availability of a network of 120,000 public chargers across on-street, destination and en-route locations is not just a significant milestone for the UK EV market but also a great result for EV drivers,” she said.
“We’re seeing increasing numbers of drivers making the switch to electric, and an extensive network of public charging options, both in high-visibility hubs and in convenient destinations where people will be stopping anyway, helps drive confidence.”
Cultural shift
The latest figures reflect the continued evolution of the UK charging market, which has accelerated dramatically over the past eight years.
The country reached 10,000 public charging devices in 2018, then doubled to 20,000 by 2020 and to 50,000 in late 2023.
Industry experts say the continued expansion of ultra-rapid charging infrastructure will be critical in supporting the next phase of EV adoption, particularly as the Government pushes towards its zero-emission vehicle targets.
However, challenges remain around regional disparities in charger availability, grid capacity and ensuring that charging remains affordable and reliable for drivers.
The pace of infrastructure deployment is becoming increasingly central to the UK’s wider transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, and with EV registrations reaching a new high, its growth needs to continue to increase to meet rising demand.
