How many EV charge points does the UK need?

When we speak to people about their plans to transition to an electric vehicle, they tend to raise the same concern… “where will I charge?”, and they’re right to be apprehensive. In fact, a recent study conducted by Uswitch revealed that motorists’ biggest worry about switching to an EV was the lack of accessible charge points, with over 31% of drivers highlighting this issue.

With the sale of new petrol and diesel cars being banned by 2030, making the switch to electric will no longer be a choice, rather a necessity. The need to offer motorists accessible charging points will quickly become of major importance. According to ZapMap, there are currently only 42,000 charge points across the UK, and The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) advises 2.3 million charging points will be needed in the UK by 2030 to keep up with predicted demand. This would mean installing 700 charge points every single day until the end of the decade.

How many EV charge points does the UK need year on year?

It’s difficult to predict exactly how many charge points will be needed, however what we do know for certain, is that the number of people making the switch to an EV will increase the closer we get to the 2030 deadline. According to the National Grid, we can expect 10 million electric vehicles on UK roads by 2030, and as many as 30 million by 2040.

Based on SMMT’s figures, here’s what the road to 2030 could look like for the UK’s charge point infrastructure.

With such a drastic infrastructure overhaul impending over the next decade, and the finite capacity of the current electricity grid, it is imperative that land owners and businesses alike stay ahead of the curve and start the process of installing charge points to meet the demand of EVs.

To find out how you can get started, read our Getting Started article here, or contact a member of or team.