Zapmap has published its annual statistics on the UK’s public EV charging network, showing a 19% year-on-year increase in charge point installations across 2025.
Figures taken from the Zapmap database at the end of December 2025 indicate that 14,097 new charge points were installed during the year. That means the public charging network in the UK now comprises 87,796 devices (representing 116,052 EVSEs) across 45,033 locations, spanning en-route, destination and on-street charging.
Despite the continued rise in installations, 2025 saw a slight dip in the total number of new chargers installed compared to 2024. That doesn’t mean the industry didn’t still deliver meaningful growth, however, it just showcases that it’s beginning to mature.
The type of chargers being installed is also evolving, as we’re now seeing more high-powered chargers and on-street chargers. Both may be at the opposite end of the segments, but they’re equally important – as on-street charging means those without off-street parking can charge at home, while high-powered chargers can ensure people can keep moving.
Ultra-rapid chargers and hubs continue to expand
While 2025 didn’t break the record set in 2024 in terms of the total number of chargers installed, it did manage to see healthy growth in the ultra-rapid segment, defined here as devices delivering 150kW and above. Zapmap’s dataset puts the number of chargers in this power band at 9,893, an increase of 41% compared with December 2024.
Alongside that, the number of charging hubs – defined by Zapmap as sites with six or more rapid or ultra-rapid devices – reached 748 by the end of 2025. That represents 39% growth over the past 12 months, with 211 additional hubs added since the start of the year.
Zapmap’s regional breakdown also points to rapid and ultra-rapid growth occurring outside London and the South East. Regional disparity has long been a problem in the EV charging segment, but that is starting to change – North West England recorded more than 35% year-on-year growth in 50kW+ chargers, while the East of England, Wales and Northern Ireland each saw around 29% growth in that power band — though Zapmap notes Northern Ireland’s figures are from a relatively low base.
Destination chargers continue to see progress
Zapmap categorises much of the UK’s EV charging network as lower-powered charge points serving longer dwell times — including car parks, visitor attractions, and residential streets. It says that destination charging covers multiple use cases and, for stops under four hours (such as supermarkets and gyms), there is a trend towards installing more rapid and ultra-rapid devices, even if sub-50kW remains the majority.
It highlighted several developments in the final quarter of 2025, including:
- A collaboration between Zest and Central Co-op to deliver EV charging at stores in the Midlands, Lancashire and East Anglia, with speeds ranging from 30kW to 120kW, and “six sites” live with “another 20 in the pipeline”;
- Evyve’s installation of ultra-rapid charging at Ash Tree Farm, a Farmhouse Inn in Ashton-under-Lyne;
- Zest’s deployment of 142 charging spaces across 14 University of Warwick locations, combining 22kW and 50kW chargers.
Despite the push towards higher-powered charging in some destination settings, Zapmap says most destination and on-street chargers remain below 50kW. Combined, these categories account for 69,861 charge points — just under 80% of the total network.
In terms of on-street charging, which has long been a particular source of demand but not necessarily capacity, Zapmap’s figures show 7,659 new charge points added in 2025, taking the total to 33,177.
Greater London continues to dominate that category, with 24,026 on-street chargers located in the capital. Zapmap adds that year-on-year growth in on-street provision is broadly similar inside and outside London, at around 30%.
LEVI awards are helping, but not revolutionary
Zapmap links part of the on-street story to the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding, intended to accelerate local charging – typically on-street – particularly in areas where charging at home is not viable.
However, it argues that the tender and commercial contracting process has taken longer than expected, and that announcements have not yet translated into a significant shift in the installation figures.
Zapmap points to several LEVI announcements made in the final three months of 2025, including:
- Blink Charging and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on a £1.4 million initiative spanning the authority’s five district council areas;
- Zest and Southend-on-Sea Local Authority on a £1.4 million programme to install over 3,000 chargers;
- Believ and North Lincolnshire Council on a minimum of 470 charge points across on-street and car park locations.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, commented on 2025’s figures, noting, “While overall charging infrastructure installations are lower than 2024 — a record-breaking year — this year has been marked by targeted areas of focus with both public and private sectors giving thought to shaping the EV market to best meet driver needs.
“The growth in ultra-rapid charging in particular is not only providing convenience and confidence to existing EV drivers but also, due to their typically visible locations, ensuring the next wave of drivers looking to make the switch that the infrastructure is there where it’s needed most.
“As we move into 2026, we look forward to LEVI fund awards translating from contracts into near-home charging provision, to increase equitable access for those without access to off-street parking. As the government’s dedicated innovation fund to address concerns around timely access to grid connections takes effect, we can expect to see benefits to the charging infrastructure both in congested, high-demand areas and rural areas with limited grid infrastructure.”
Vicky Read, Chief Executive of industry body ChargeUK, added, “A year in which EV sales accounted for a quarter of all vehicle registrations whilst the charging infrastructure grew by a fifth can only be described as hugely positive. But the overall charge point number only gives us a part of the picture — our sector is focused on installing the right kind of charging in the right places. Which is why the rollout of ultra-rapid charging is especially pleasing to see. The widespread coverage across key UK roads means that EV drivers can take long journeys with increasing confidence.
“The slower rollout of on-street charging is largely accounted for by the delays to the Government’s LEVI funding scheme, but we are anticipating to see lots more volume on that front in 2026 into 2027 — with a stated aim to deliver 100,000 local low power chargers for those who cannot charge at home.
“As we enter the government’s review into the cost of public charging in the first half of this year we hope to see action taken to reduce the cost burdens on charge point operators, which will both help to unlock further investment to speed up deployment and bring down driver prices. Clear and stable EV policy, including no further wavering on EVsales targets, will also continue to be critical.”
