The Orkney Islands, with just a few hundred electric vehicle owners, have the second highest concentration of rapid EV chargers in all of Britain, according to an analysis of official figures. Despite having a population of only 22,000, electric car owners on the Orkneys have access to 15 public fast chargers. In comparison, the city of Leicester, with a population of over 350,000 and almost 2,500 EV drivers, only has three rapid charging devices available. This lack of consistency in charging infrastructure can be frustrating for electric car owners, especially those without driveways who rely on public chargers. Additionally, it makes it difficult for the government to persuade motorists who haven’t yet made the switch to consider an EV.
According to the Department for Transport, there are currently 44,020 public charging points available to EV drivers across the UK. However, fewer than 19% of these are rapid or ultra-rapid devices. LeaseLoco, a car leasing comparison site, conducted an analysis in July and found that the Orkneys have a higher density of rapid chargers than almost anywhere else in the UK, apart from the City of London. The uneven distribution of rapid chargers across the UK charging network is evident, with some areas having more devices than others.
The latest data from the Department for Transport also reveals that there are currently only 8,461 public rapid and ultra-rapid charging devices across the UK. These devices are crucial for hassle-free long-distance journeys in EVs, as they can replenish an EV’s battery from 20 to 80% charge in around half an hour. Milton Keynes and Birmingham have the highest numbers of rapid chargers outside of London, but when compared to other large cities and densely populated areas, the disparity becomes clear.
For example, Liverpool has just 23 rapid chargers, making up less than 6% of all public devices in the city. Harlow in Essex, with a population of over 93,000, has no rapid chargers at all. Across all local authorities in the UK, nearly 50% have less than one in four chargers that are rapid or ultra-rapid. Thurrock has the highest availability of rapid chargers among local authorities, with 75% of its current network consisting of rapid and ultra-rapid devices.
Wales has made the most progress in expanding its rapid charging network, with a 78% increase in installations over the past year. On the other hand, London and the North East have made the slowest progress. The uneven spread of rapid chargers is a cause for concern for electric car owners, as it can lead to charging anxiety. The lack of rapid chargers, particularly on motorways, means that EV owners may face lengthy wait times when charging their cars on the go. This inconsistency in charging infrastructure across the country could make it harder for the government to encourage the public to switch to electric vehicles.
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