The UK’s EV charging mapping and payment service Zapmap has released data showing there to be 75,675 public charging points as of early March.

Compared to the 57,290 installed as of February 2024, crossing the 75,000-mark this year represents 32% growth year-on-year.

Zapmap’s tracking data covers four EV charging point categories, ranging in speed/power rating. Among these, high-powered and ultra-rapid rated 150kW+ devices saw a sharp 74% increase.

The data also found that charging point figures rose, regardless of purpose, such as with neighborhood low-power charging points (i.e. onstreet charging), as well as en-route/destination charging, which can be found at hotels and leisure centres.

Expressing optimism for the future of EV charging points, co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham highlighted that public charging as an extensive network will help drive confidence for more drivers making the switch to EVs in the years ahead. Ms. Shufflebotham noted the value, in particular, of high visibility hubs for the development of appealing EV charging infrastructure.

Zapmap has also expressed confidence about the future of EV infrastructure growth in general. However, they have added that this is essentially predicated on the continuation of the Zero Emission Vehicle or ZEV government mandate.

The ZEV mandate, introduced by the Sunak government in January 2024 and remaining in effect under Labour, targets 100% of new cars and vans in Great Britain being zero emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen) before 2035. The mandate also eyes hitting 80% and 70% figures for new cars and vans, respectively, by the end of this decade.

In the nearer term, it is expected that thousands of on-street chargers will be installed through the second half of this year with backing from private investment and the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund.