Britain’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network has expanded by a remarkable 23% over the past year, marking one of the fastest periods of growth since the country began tracking EV infrastructure. Nearly 16,000 new public chargers were installed between October 2024 and October 2025, bringing the total to more than 86,000 across the UK. This acceleration represents a major step towards making EV ownership easier, more convenient, and more appealing to a wider range of drivers.
A Year of Record Growth for EV Charging
According to government data, a new public EV charger is now being installed roughly every 33 minutes, highlighting the scale of investment taking place. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints are also growing quickly, improving reliability for long-distance travel and reducing charging times for modern EVs.
While this 23% increase is a national milestone, the rollout is not evenly distributed. Urban areas such as London and the South East continue to lead in density and speed of installation, while rural regions still face gaps in provision. Nonetheless, the overall trend is encouraging: EV charging is becoming mainstream infrastructure, no longer a rarity but a visible part of daily life.
Addressing the “No Driveway” Dilemma
One of the UK’s biggest barriers to widespread EV adoption is the lack of access to home charging for the millions of people who park on the street. Around 40% of households in Britain do not have a private driveway or garage, making it difficult to install a home EV charging point.
To help solve this, new government proposals aim to make charging accessible for everyone, regardless of housing type. Plans include overcoming barriers for “cross-pavement” EV charging channels that allow safe cable access across pavements, and introducing a £25 million funding scheme to help local authorities support on-street charging. These changes could make home charging viable for drivers who previously had no practical option – a crucial step in levelling the EV charging playing field.
The Rise of Workplace Charging
Alongside these changes, workplace charging is emerging as one of the most cost-effective solutions for drivers. Recent analysis shows that charging an EV at work can be significantly cheaper than using public networks — and in some cases, even more affordable than home charging once installation costs are factored in. For many drivers without private parking, plugging in at work provides both convenience and savings, helping bridge the gap while home and on-street options continue to expand.
A Changing Landscape for Drivers
The UK’s EV charging network is growing not only in size but in accessibility and sophistication. With a 23% year-on-year increase in public chargers, new support for households without driveways, and affordable alternatives through workplace schemes, charging an EV is steadily becoming simpler and more flexible.
Yet the work isn’t done. Consistency, reliability, and fair pricing remain priorities as usage rises. Investment in rural and under-served areas will be key to ensuring that the benefits of this expansion are shared evenly across the country. Britain’s charging network is expanding faster than ever, fuelled by innovation, policy reform, and growing consumer confidence.
