Skip advert
Advertisement

UK government falls short of motorway electric car charging target

A major EV infrastructure target is missed as less than four in 10 motorway service stations have six or more rapid chargers.

Electric car charging

As electric vehicle ownership continues to rapidly rise in the UK, infrastructure is failing to meet demand. The number of rapid or ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers in motorway service stations has not reached targets set out by the Department for Transport that should have been met by the end of 2023.

Advertisement - Article continues below

New data from the RAC says the DfT’s own aim of equipping every motorway station with at least six rapid chargers for EVs has not been met with just 46 of 119 motorway services offering six charging stations above a speed of 50kW. The RAC also says the number of motorway rapid chargers has grown by just 19 since the end of April 2023. 

The term ‘rapid and ultra-rapid chargers’ refers to units with charging speeds of between 150kW and 350kW. While the numbers of these high-spec units are lagging behind, four UK service stations still have no EV chargers of any description; Leicester Forest on both sides of the M1, Tebay South on the M6, and Barton Park on the A1(M).

EV charger mapping service Zapmap says the UK has 53,029 charging points, of which only a fifth of are rapid or ultra-rapid. The government says it is aiming for at least 300,000 public chargers by 2030.

Back in 2020 the government announced a £1bn Rapid Charging Fund as a ‘pilot scheme’ to improve the UK’s charging infrastructure. A consultation to determine which services and areas will benefit from the money will end in February 2024. More recently in December 2023, a £70m fund was allocated to help 10 motorway services install ultra-rapid charging stations as concerns have been raised around problems getting sufficient electricity supplies to these sometimes remote locations.

Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives
Kia's UK boss, Paul Philpott standing next to a Kia EV6

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives

Brand CEO says ZEV mandate is a threat, asking for clarity from the Labour government
News
6 Jan 2025
Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants
Finance contract, car key and calculator on desk

Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants

Scandal involving car finance commission could see motorists entitled to billions of pounds in payouts
News
19 Dec 2024
Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns
Emissions tests questioned

Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns

The DfT is currently investigating as many as 47 models across several brands that are suspected to use diesel defeat devices
News
14 Nov 2024
MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars
MOT

MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars

More than a third of light commercials failed their first MoT last year, new figures show
News
12 Nov 2024

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price
Volkswagen Golf GTI - front corner right

Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price

The Golf GTI has skilfully combined racy performance with everyday useability for nearly 50 years. It’s our Deal of the Day for 10 February
News
10 Feb 2025
The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027
Fiat Panda Cross - front static

The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027

Fiat will build a new city-sized Pandina based on the new 500 platform, bringing a proper, petrol powered A-segment city car to market as early as 202…
News
12 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts