Revealed: the worst regions for electric car charging points

Electric cars now outnumber public charging points by at least 15 to one.

Figures this week revealed that more than half a million electric cars were now on Britain's roads.

However, the number of public electric vehicle chargers is not keeping pace, according to new analysis. The Government announced in March that it aims to install 300,000 public charging points by 2030 in a £1.6bn push.

Yet little more than 30,000 have been installed in the last decade, the research found. In the last year, the ratio of electric vehicles to charging points has tripled, with 15 cars per charging point in January this year compared to the same month in 2021, according to the analysis by lease firm Novuna Vehicle Solutions.

The research, which also surveyed 2,000 electric vehicle drivers, also revealed regional disparities in the availability of chargers.

Drivers in London are the best provided for, with five electric vehicles per charging point, compared to the South West and North West, where the ratio of electric vehicles to charging points was 32 to one and 28 to one respectively.

The report found that almost a third (31pc) of electric car drivers now frequently have to queue to charge their car. Three in four electric car drivers said the UK’s charging infrastructure is “not fit for purpose”.

Despite this, three in five petrol car drivers said their next car was likely to be electric, and 68pc said they would not buy or live in a house without a charge point.

Novuna said it estimates over half of British adults will be electric car drivers by 2030 when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be phased out. Even if the Government did meet its 300,000 installation target, it added, there would be 54 electric vehicles vying for every charging point by the end of the decade.

Jonny Barry, of Novuna Vehicle Solutions, called on the Government to accelerate the rollout. He said: “The Government vows to have 300,000 public chargers installed by 2030, but with just 32,000 devices on the ground today, our research puts into question whether this target is achievable.

“Our findings highlight how the charging network is not only a cause of frustration for EV drivers but also the millions of petrol and diesel drivers looking to transition to electric sooner rather than later.

“Having to queue for a charge is a concern raised all too often by motorists, illustrating just how pressing it is for more charge points to be installed as a matter of urgency.”

The Department for Transport was contacted for comment.