Big milestone alert! The UK’s EV charging network has just hit a major landmark - 75,000 charge points and counting. With more drivers switching to EVs, the charging network is expanding at an incredible pace. Here’s what the numbers are telling us:
75,675 charge points now live in the UK
110,558 connectors spread across 38,350 locations
32% year-on-year (YoY) growth in charge point installations compared to February 2024
Source: Zapmap
That’s some impressive progress, but where exactly is all this growth happening? Let’s take a look at the regions leading the charge.
If we had to crown one region for charging growth so far this year, Scotland would be taking home the trophy. The nation has kicked off 2025 with some seriously strong numbers:
7.3% year-to-date (YTD) growth - the highest in the UK!
35% year-on-year growth across all power ratings
Rapid chargers (50-149kW) are booming, with 14.5% YTD growth and a 6.5% month-on-month (MoM) increase
That means more fast and rapid charging options for Scottish EV drivers, whether they’re zipping through city streets or heading out on scenic road trips through the Highlands.
The West Midlands is Winning in Low-Powered Growth
While Scotland is dominating the rapid charger scene, the West Midlands is making big strides in low-powered chargers. This region saw a 52% YoY increase in lower-power installations, helping to build out charging options in areas where slow and overnight charging is key.
Having a mix of low, fast, and rapid charge points is essential to making EV ownership more accessible, and it’s great to see different regions leading the way in different areas of charging infrastructure.
February EV Sales
Source: SMMT
The adoption of electric vehicles continued to rise in February, with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) increasing by 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) up 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations saw a significant 41.7% jump, reaching 21,244 vehicles and securing a 25.3% market share, up from 17.7% a year ago.
This sharp increase, especially compared to the overall market, isn’t unexpected given the upcoming tax changes in April, which will see many EV models subject to the vehicle excise duty (VED) expensive car supplement (ECS) for the first time. While this growth keeps EV adoption on an upward trajectory, it still falls short of the 28% market share target for 2025.
However, February is historically one of the smallest and most volatile months for registrations, as it comes just before the key March number plate change.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive: “Although February’s figures show a subdued overall market, the good news is that electric car uptake is increasing, albeit at huge cost to manufacturers in terms of market support. It is always dangerous, however, to draw conclusions from a single month, especially one as small and volatile as February.”
Hubs, Hubs, and More Hubs!
Another exciting trend? The rise of charging hubs. In February alone, 26 non-Tesla hubs went live across the UK, almost one for every single day of the month!
Charging hubs are a game-changer for EV drivers, offering multiple rapid charge points in one location, often with amenities like cafés, shops, or even workspaces while you wait. These hubs make long journeys easier and cut down on queue times at busy charging locations.
What’s Next?
The UK’s charging network is growing faster than ever, but there’s still work to be done to make EV charging seamless and stress-free for everyone. The good news? With year-on-year growth at 32% and no signs of slowing down, we’re on the right track.
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