Minister hails record growth in UK's public electric vehicle charger network
Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood claimed the figures show people can always access a charger 'no matter where they live'.
Some 79,326 public charging devices were available on May 1, Department for Transport (DfT) statistics seen by the PA news agency show.
That is an increase of 2,819 compared from the total of 76,507 on April 1.
Since May 1 last year, the amount has soared by 30%.
The rollout of public EV charging is seen as vital to persuade more drivers – particularly those without off-road parking – to switch to electric motoring.
Ms Greenwood said: 'We're ensuring drivers are always close to an electric vehicle chargepoint, no matter where they live.
'Our new stats this week show strong growth in our public chargepoint network, with almost 80,000 public chargepoints now installed and a record of nearly 3,000 made available this April alone.'
She said the UK is 'seeing a chargepoint boost across all regions'.
Compared with April 1 2024, the number available on the same date this year increased by 30% in the North, 44% in the West Midlands, 29% in the South East, 28% in Wales, 32% in Scotland and 23% in Northern Ireland.
Changes in the total number of available devices are caused by chargers being installed, decommissioned or switching from private use only.
The DfT figures are based on data from charger map service Zapmap.
A report published by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office in December last year found the rollout of public EV chargers was 'on track' to meet the 300,000 the DfT estimates will be the minimum needed by 2030.
The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030.
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Thursday that pure electric versions are available for a record two out of five new car models on sale in the UK.
Car buyers can choose from more than 130 battery electric new car models, up from 102 a year ago.
There are also more than 100 plug-in hybrid models on sale.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
3 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Volkswagen Considering Smaller, Cheaper Electric ID.Buzz MPV
And it could go into production as soon as 2027. Fun And Practical EV Would Supersede Europe's Touran The Volkswagen is one of the most cheerful new family vehicles you can buy, but its starting price of $59,995 limits its appeal. That's still far more expensive than conventional gas or hybrid minivans like the Chrysler Pacifica. However, it looks like a smaller, cheaper sibling could be on the way, based on a new report by Autocar. 0:02 / 0:09 Nissan's revolutionary self-driving tech hits Japan's streets Watch More The report suggests that the new VW would replace the Touran, an MPV that has never been sold in the United States, given our market's preference for SUVs. Currently being internally reviewed by Volkswagen, the potential Touran replacement could draw inspiration from one of the brand's most exciting concepts. 2016 Budd-E Concept Could Inspire Smaller Source: VW The Budd-E was the first VW model to be based on the MEB modular platform that now underpins models like the ID.4, ID.7 and . The electric minivan concept still looks ultra-modern today, with its wraparound windshield, two-tone body, and bold face with sleek lighting. It's this concept that could inspire the Touran replacement, but this is just one of several older MPV concepts VW is reviewing. The minimal overhangs and flat floor will maximize interior space but keep the proportions tight, which is exactly why this type of vehicle excels. According to insiders, new sliding door and seat designs are being considered to make this vehicle as versatile as possible. Source: VW Powering the Touran replacement could be a choice of single or dual electric motors. To keep the price low enough, an output of around 200 to 250 hp seems reasonable, given that the larger manages between 282 and 335 hp. The and ID.4 are rear-wheel drive as standard, but its smaller sibling may rely on front-wheel drive as standard. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Battery capacities of 60 to 80 kWh have been suggested as likely. EVs of this size would be expected to have a range of at least 240 miles or so to be competitive. Will The Smaller Make It To America? VW — Source: VW At this point, it seems unlikely that a smaller version of the would be sold here. Such a vehicle would clash with the ID.4 in terms of price – the priciest ID.4 starts at just below the price of the . Besides this, few Americans choose SUVs over minivans or MPVs. The smaller and cheaper is expected to be launched by 2027 at the earliest, assuming Volkswagen does decide to put it into production. If it has the same nostalgic styling and clever versatility of the , but at a lower price, it'll be one of VW's top EVs. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ford slips down sales list as century-old nemesis makes fun of slump
America's biggest automaker is charging ahead. General Motors — the owner of Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick — says it has sold 62,000 EVs through May of this year. Chevy led the electric charge with its two crossover SUVs, the Equinox and the Blazer, selling 37,000 units by the end of May. The EV sales number is a stunning feat for the competition between America's most iconic carmakers: Chevy's sales were enough to beat Ford Corporation's entire EV lineup over the same period. GM namecalled Chevy's Ford-beating sales in its press release. Ford's three-pronged lineup of E-Transit commercial vans, F-150 Lightning pickups, and Mustang Mach-E crossovers sold 34,000 in the same month. That's an eight percent dip on a year ago. Ford blamed the drop on a redesigns of the Mach-E and Lightning. A spokesperson told the modest design changes resulted in temporary inventory shortages. Ford said EV sales will rebound as stock returns, adding, 'We expect to see a strong June sales month as stock hits dealer lots.' Chevy's sudden sales surge comes as the battery-powered industry goes through several major shifts. While Tesla still dominates the EV market, its grip is slipping. Legacy car brands like Chevy, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota are launching a slate of new cars that often undercut Tesla's pricing. Customers are responding positively, with GM claiming that May was its second-best EV sales month ever. 'Customers are responding in record numbers to our world-class portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles,' Rory Harvey, the company's VP and president of global markets, said. 'We more than doubled our EV sales compared to the same period last year.' But even as legacy carmakers post electric milestones, headwinds are intensifying. Consumer interest in EVs is sliding, government incentives are under threat, and supply chains are starting to feel the pinch of geopolitical tension. A new poll from AAA found that 63 percent of Americans say they're 'unlikely or very unlikely' to consider an EV for their next vehicle — a 10-point jump in just two years. Ford said its EV sales decline was largely attributed to a redesign of the Mustang Mach-E 'Since we began tracking interest in fully electric vehicles, we've seen some variability,' Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering. 'While the automotive industry is committed to long-term electrification and providing a diverse range of models, underlying consumer hesitation remains.' Political winds aren't helping either. The Replican backed spending bill — dubbed the Big, Beautiful Bill by President Donald Trump — aims to slash the federal $7,500 EV tax credit, which has helped keep prices competitive. Killing the subsidy would instantly make EVs more expensive for many buyers. According to the AAA poll, Americans listed higher prices as the biggest problem with EVs. 'It's our belief that consumers will switch to electric when EVs achieve price parity with gas cars,' Seth Goldstein, an EV analyst at Morningstar, told Meanwhile, automakers are bracing for supply shortages after China responded to Trump's tariffs by tightening exports of rare-earth magnets — a key component in EV motors. While gas cars use around half a pound of the material, electric cars need nearly a pound per vehicle. Automakers are betting big on new tech to weather the storm. Drivers have grown more skeptical of EVs, according to new polls from AAA GM is investing heavily in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery development, which could cut costs, reduce reliance on rare earths, and enable domestic production — all while meeting or exceeding current range standards. Toyota is launching three new EV models in the US, while several companies are looking at reshoring EV production across America. Automakers looking at the future of the industry still largely believe that Americans will eventually transition to fully electric vehicles. It just will take more time than originally expected. Jeremy Snyder, chief commercial officer of the newly-unveiled Slate electric truck company, told the Daily Mail that US EV manufacturing is a no-brainer. 'Building EVs for a new company is the only obvious solution,' he said.
Auto Express
6 hours ago
- Auto Express
UK transport funding cut by 5% but there is some good news for drivers
Government spending on transport is set to be reduced following the recent spending review. However, more cash has been set aside to fund the UK's continued transition to electric vehicles, plus to maintain and repair the nation's decaying road network. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has just set out the government's spending plans until the next Parliament in three years' time, and while funding for the National Health Service will increase by three per cent year-on-year until 2028/29, the Department for Transport's day-to-day spending will be cut by as much as five per cent. Advertisement - Article continues below This is the second-largest department cut as a result of the Spending Review, followed by the Foreign Office, which is seeing a 6.9 per cent reduction in spending, mostly on foreign aid. However, despite there being less overall funds available, the Treasury now says it plans to invest £1.4 billion over the next three years into turbocharging the UK's transition to electric vehicles. Exactly how the government plans to do this is another matter, although a spokesperson did tell Auto Express that 'the Government will consider raising the Expensive Car [VED] Supplement threshold for EVs only at a future fiscal event' – meaning that such a move is still on the cards, potentially for Autumn's Budget. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers responded positively to the government's announcement, but chief executive Mike Hawes was keen to point out that 'Some support for EVs has [already] been made available, but more substantive measures to incentivise private consumer demand are still needed if world-leading targets are to be met.' The Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA) also welcomed the investment, but said that 'what matters now is how this funding will be spent'. The trade body's Chief executive Vicky Edmonds warned that 'VAT on public charging, alongside more planning and regulatory barriers, continue[s] to promote a 'two-tier' system between EV drivers with and without access to reliable and cost-effective home charging." On that point, an additional £400 million has also been allocated to aiding the rapid deployment of public EV chargers – Government figures show there are now 76,500 across the UK. Unfortunately, there is no word on whether the government plans to cut VAT on public charging in order to address the difference in cost between public and home charging. It's important to mention that the Government also pledged £24 billion (or roughly £8 billion per year) over the current parliament to fixing and maintaining the UK's major roads. The RAC's head of policy, Simon Williams, hailed this as "wonderful news', stating that 'Local authorities now have a golden opportunity to end the cycle of merely filling potholes and instead begin to be much more proactive in their maintenance. This must include both more surface dressing to keep decent roads in good condition, and resurfacing those that are at the end of their lives.' Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI The Golf R Estate is one of the best performance estates around – and right now it's criminally cheap. It's our Deal of the Day for 9 June. Should Citroen make a new 2CV? Some say oui, others say non Should Citroen make a new 2CV? Some say oui, others say non A new Citroen 2CV could be inbound, but would this be a French fancy or a financial flop? Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Jeep Avenger for under £200 per month Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Jeep Avenger for under £200 per month The petrol-powered version of Jeep's charming baby SUV is our Deal of the Day for 8 June
