Picture Credit: Zap Map

Since the start of 2024, 200 ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers, capable of delivering 150kW or more, have been installed at motorway services across England. This marks a 51% increase in just eight months, according to analysis by Zapmap and the RAC, and sets a new record for charger installation growth.

Currently, 48% of England’s 114 motorway services now have six or more of these high-powered chargers. Many sites also offer even faster charging, with speeds up to 350kW.

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In total, 595 ultra-rapid chargers are now available for the UK’s estimated 1.17 million EV drivers, allowing for quick recharging during long-distance trips.

In 2022, the UK government set a target to equip every motorway service area (MSA) in England with six or more chargers of 50kW or greater by the end of 2023. However, the latest data shows that while 61 motorway services (54%) have met this threshold, the focus has shifted towards installing much faster chargers. At present, nearly two-thirds of MSAs (73 sites) now offer at least one ultra-rapid 150kW charger.

Several motorway services, including Reading M4, Cobham M25, and Gloucester M5, now have more than 12 high-powered chargers. The M5’s Frankley southbound services lead the way with 28 chargers while Reading M4 westbound follows with 25. Some of these locations also offer Tesla Superchargers, now available to non-Tesla drivers at select sites.

On average, English motorway services now have seven high-powered chargers across all sites, with an average of five ultra-rapid chargers per location. However, four MSAs – Leicester Forest East (north and southbound), Sedgemoor M5, and Telford M54 – currently lack chargers over 50kW. Gridserve, the operator of the Electric Highway network, confirmed that it plans to install chargers at Sedgemoor by 2025.

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RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, acknowledged that while the previous government’s target has been missed, progress is evident. “The number of chargers being installed is extremely impressive, with ultra-rapid devices now making up 73% of all high-powered chargers installed this year.”

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder of Zapmap, highlighted the significant investments made in charging infrastructure over the past two years. She also pointed to the rise of strategically located charging hubs near key routes, offering EV drivers even more convenient charging options.

Examples of such hubs include Gridserve’s Electric Forecourts near Gatwick Airport and Stevenage, and InstaVolt’s 32-charger hub in Banbury, just off the M40. These hubs complement the existing network at motorway services and offer additional fast-charging options for EV drivers.