The UK had 121,171 public electric vehicle charging devices on July 1, 2026, according to statistics published by the Department for Transport on August 27, 2026. The release is the first in a new combined quarterly series using data from Zapmap and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.
Key Figures
- 121,171 public charging devices, or 174.9 per 100,000 people.
- 28,887 rapid or faster devices (50 kW and above), or 41.7 per 100,000.
- 5,119 devices added so far this year, compared with 13,281 added in 2025; DfT notes a June 2026 data correction affects the year-to-date trend.
- By location type: 52% destination, 33% on-street and 11% en-route.
- One public charger for every 17 battery-electric cars, as of April 1, 2026.
Regional Gaps
Coverage varies sharply. Scotland has 231.6 devices per 100,000 people, while Northern Ireland has 60.0. London leads overall with 345.1 per 100,000, but has only 27.9 rapid-or-faster devices per 100,000.
What It Means for Buyers
Most of the UK network is destination and on-street AC charging, the segment where 7 to 22 kW chargers compete. Regions with low coverage, including Northern Ireland and rural areas, remain opportunities for installers and operators. See our UK and Ireland market pages.
Related Reading
- EV Charging News: Germany’s Business Charging Market Consolidates as Cubos and EVN Make Acquisitions
- EV Charging News: Türkiye Nears 48,000 Charging Sockets
- Hot-Climate EV Charging: Protecting Chargers From Desert Heat and Sun
Key Takeaways
- The UK had 121,171 public charging devices on July 1, 2026.
- 28,887 devices are rapid or faster (50 kW and above).
- Destination (52%) and on-street (33%) charging dominate the network.
- Coverage ranges from 231.6 per 100,000 in Scotland to 60.0 in Northern Ireland.
Sources & Standards
