Can the UK Reach Its Goal of 300,000 Public EV Chargers by 2030? A Closer Look at the Numbers
If you’ve noticed more electric car chargers popping up around your area lately, you’re not imagining it. According to new data from the Department for Transport (DfT), a new public EV charger is being installed every 33 minutes across the UK.
Between October 2024 and October 2025, 15,979 public chargepoints were added nationwide - a 23% jump in the UK’s charging infrastructure. That brings the total to over 86,000 chargers, helping more drivers make the switch to electric.
Charging up the UK
Almost two-fifths of these chargers are “on-street” units - designed for drivers who don’t have a driveway or home charging setup. Meanwhile, rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (the kind you’ll spot at motorway services and major retail parks) now number over 17,000, capable of boosting most EV batteries to 80% in just 20 - 40 minutes.
It’s clear that progress is being made - but it’s not quite fast enough. The UK Government has set a target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030, meaning we’ll need another 213,000+ devices in just five years. That’s roughly 130 new chargers every day - more than double the current rate of around 50.
On-street growth: making EVs practical for everyone
One of the most encouraging trends has been the growth of residential on-street charging. Around 38% of all new installations are kerbside chargers, including those built directly into street lamps. This shift is vital for EV adoption in cities and towns, where many residents can’t install a home unit.
Vicky Read, Chief Executive, ChargeUK said:
The vast majority of EV drivers use the public networks and an increasing number will be wholly reliant on them. Meaning we need the right mix of affordable and easy to access charging at home and at work, on-street, en-route and at destinations to ensure everyone can make the switch.
Currently, around nine in ten EV owners still rely on home charging, which remains far cheaper - in some cases, up to 10 times less expensive than public charging. But things could soon change. The Government is looking at ways to simplify “cross-pavement” charging for homes without driveways, potentially allowing much cheaper home-style charging - as little as 2p per mile.
More investment on the horizon
Labour’s £381 million plan to roll out another 100,000 public chargers across England has been widely welcomed. Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said:
Chargepoints are up 23% this year, and we’re helping drivers save with discounts on new electric cars. We’re also making it easier for renters and those without driveways to access affordable home charging.
Where growth is happening fastest
Outside London, public EV charging has grown fastest in Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales, the West Midlands, and the East of England. Across England, there are now more than 6,000 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers within just a mile of major routes - a big help for long-distance drivers.
Find your nearest (and cheapest) EV charger with Fuel Watch
With the network expanding so rapidly, finding a reliable charger has never been more important.
That’s where our Fuel Watch - EV Charge Point Lookup comes in.
Our database now includes over 110,000 EV charge points across the UK - and it’s growing every week. Whether you’re looking for the nearest, fastest, or cheapest charge point, Fuel Watch makes it easy to plan your next charge in seconds.
As the UK races toward its 2030 targets, every new chargepoint helps make electric driving more accessible, affordable, and convenient for everyone.