The number of public EV chargers has increased by 6% from the previous quarter, totalling 25,927 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK, according to new Department of Transport data. Of this number, 4,923 were rapid chargers.

Since 2015, the number of public charging devices has grown by an average of 9% each quarter, with a significantly higher increase for rapid chargers at an average of 13%.

Across the UK, London was recorded to be the region with the highest proportion of charging devices at 87 per 100,000 people. Scotland currently ranks in second with 49, and the South East just behind with 37 per 100,000.

Northern Ireland stands as the lowest in the UK for public charge point availability, with just 18 chargers per 100,000 people. It was the only region in the UK not to increase in rapid charging devices within the July to September period.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has since confirmed in the recent Autumn Budget an allocation of £49 million to Northern Ireland for upgrades to electric vehicle charging networks across the country.

In that same Budget announcement, the Chancellor pledged £817 million to go towards the development of EV supply chains, including vehicle manufacturing and battery production. Furthermore, £620 million will be dedicated to improving charging infrastructure in residential areas, as well as targeted plug-in vehicle grants aimed at improving driver uptake.

“It is encouraging to see that the UK public charging infrastructure is steadily increasing, particularly as the demand for electric cars continues to climb each month. However, the growth of charging infrastructure needs to significantly outpace EV uptake, and that isn’t the case currently,” commented

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, Director of Sales and Operations at AX.

“It’s impressive to see motorists embracing electric cars at the rate we’re seeing this year, yet there are still barriers to ownership – charging infrastructure remains one of the key obstacles for households transitioning to electric mobility.”

AX Electric is the first fully comprehensive and tailored EV credit hire solution. It offers a 100% EV-for-EV guarantee, nationwide delivery promise on cars, as well as guaranteed deployment to an EV authorised and approved repairer.