The UK’s electric vehicle charging network is expanding at unprecedented speed, supported by billions of pounds in public and private investment.

Yet new analysis suggests that the rollout remains uneven, with large parts of England still facing shortages that could leave drivers struggling to charge during busy travel periods.

Car dealer Dick Lovett’s research has warned that electric vehicle drivers need to plan their journeys carefully, as it reveals stark regional disparities in access to public charging points.

More EVs

While EV adoption has accelerated across the country, infrastructure growth has failed to keep pace in several regions, creating what the firm describes as EV charging “deserts.

Government figures show EV ownership has risen sharply over the past five years as motorists respond to incentives, environmental concerns and the approaching 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

However, Dick Lovett’s analysis of licensed EVs relative to publicly available chargers highlights wide variations in availability by location.

More chargers

London remains the best-served region, with 153,619 licensed EVs supported by 24,419 public chargers — equating to roughly one charger for every six vehicles.

The South East follows with 91,112 EVs and 10,212 chargers, or one charger per nine EVs, while the West Midlands has 86,024 EVs and 7,658 chargers, giving a ratio of one per 11 vehicles.

Provision becomes significantly thinner in northern and eastern regions.

The North East has 31,397 EVs and 2,703 public chargers, equating to one charger for every 12 vehicles, while the South West has 91,196 EVs and 5,829 chargers — one per 16 EVs.

The situation is most acute in the East of England, the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East Midlands.

The East of England has 114,984 EVs but just 6,249 chargers, or one per 18 vehicles. The North West records a similar ratio, with 101,974 EVs and 5,669 chargers.

Yorkshire and the Humber currently has 77,076 EVs supported by 4,141 public chargers — one charger for every 19 vehicles — while the East Midlands has the weakest provision nationwide.

With 79,271 EVs and just 3,792 chargers, the region has one public charger for every 21 EVs.

Not enough

The report highlighted the East Midlands as a case study of demand outstripping supply.

EV share in the region has increased from 0.42% to 3.3% over the past five years, while the number of public chargers has grown from 962 to 3,792 — a 294% increase.

Despite this progress, the pace of EV adoption means drivers may still struggle to find available charging points, particularly during peak holiday travel.

A similar pattern is evident in Yorkshire and the Humber, where EV share has risen from 0.39% cent to 2.7%.

Although the number of chargers has more than quadrupled since 2020, growth has not kept pace with the increase in electric vehicles on the road.

The North West has seen some of the most substantial infrastructure investment, with charger numbers rising by 284% over five years.

The region also received £51 million in funding from the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund — the second-largest allocation in England. Even so, the current charger-to-vehicle ratio suggests further expansion is needed to keep pace with demand.

Fulfilling expectations

Dick Lovett is advising EV drivers to ensure they begin longer journeys with a full charge, especially if the route includes underserved regions. 

It’s essential to plan charging stops in advance, warning that limited infrastructure could lead to delays or long waits at busy times.

It is also worth researching whether chargers at planned stops are actually working.

Industry experts say the findings underline a broader challenge for the UK’s EV transition.

While the national charging network continues to expand, addressing regional inequalities will be crucial to maintaining consumer confidence and ensuring the shift to electric motoring remains on track over the coming decade.