- New figures show there are 8,471 charging locations across the UK as of 22 May
- In comparison there are currently 8,400 petrol stations in the country
The electric car revolution is well and truly taking shape as new stats reveal there are more public charging locations for plug-in vehicles than there are fuel stations in the UK for the first time in history.
New figures from Zap-Map revealed that – as of 22 May – there are 8,471 charging locations across the UK with a total of 13,613 individual plug-in points.
In comparison there are currently 8,400 petrol stations in the country.
While more charge point locations are being added by the week, petrol station numbers are in decline.
Milton Keynes ‘Mushrooms’ Charging Hub (Image: T. Larkum)
In fact, the charge-point website says there has been a 57 per cent increase in EV charge points across the UK in the last 12 months alone.
‘Charging points can now be found across the length and breadth of the country, from the Shetland Islands to the Cornish Riviera, from Giant’s Causeway to the White Cliffs of Dover,’ it said.
The growing infrastructure is much needed if the network is to cope with the growing demand for charge points.
Uptake of electric vehicles has been rapid in recent years, increasing from only 3,500 cars on the road in 2013 to more than 210,000 examples currently.
Analysts have forecast that there will be 1 million EVs in use in the UK by the end of 2022, a figure backed by government policy that looks to electrify all new cars and vans by 2040.
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