The UK's rollout of electric vehicle chargers has slowed markedly in the first half of 2026, with just 5,100 new public charge points installed, bringing the total to 121,171, according to data company Zapmap. This represents a 10% increase compared to the same period last year, a significant deceleration from the growth rates exceeding 40% seen in 2024.
Growth Falls Short of Government Targets
The slowdown comes despite the government's target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030 and the rising number of electric vehicles on UK roads, which surpassed 2 million in April. Industry experts warn that installation rates need to remain high to keep pace with EV sales and meet climate goals.
Charger installations have been declining over the past two years, driven by concerns over the pace of the transition from petrol and diesel engines. The car industry, both in the UK and Europe, has lobbied heavily for the government to weaken the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which enforces a rapid increase in EV sales each year.
Political Uncertainty and Policy Changes
The Labour government has already introduced loopholes, known as “flexibilities,” to the ZEV mandate, originally brought in by the Conservatives in 2023. These allow car manufacturers to sell more petrol-engine cars, and the government is considering lowering the headline target for EV sales from 80% by 2030 to as low as 50%.
Jarrod Birch, head of policy and public affairs at ChargeUK, a lobby group for the charging industry, said: “The public charging network has doubled over the past three years, and rapid charging is growing quickest of all, with nine in 10 built outside of London in the past 12 months. It is a British success story, funded by private investment made on the certainty of future customers that the government’s ZEV mandate provides. But the mandate has now been argued over for three years, under two governments. It is no surprise that investors are hesitating as doubt surrounds the policy once again.”
Focus on Ultra-Rapid Chargers
Zapmap's figures indicate that charging companies are concentrating on ultra-rapid chargers, with a 37% increase in numbers year-on-year. These chargers, capable of delivering more than 150 kilowatts (kW) of power, are typically located along motorways and main roads, allowing drivers to top up quickly on longer journeys. They tend to be more profitable than standard or rapid chargers, as companies can charge higher prices and serve more customers daily.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Zapmap’s co-founder and chief operating officer, noted that the first-half installations represent “a steady rollout” overall, with “high growth” in the ultra-rapid segment. She added that councils are finally deploying chargers funded by the government’s local electric vehicle infrastructure (Levi) scheme, aimed at providing more on-street chargers for those without private parking.
“The Levi funding has seen an increased number of tenders awarded, and these – generally on-street chargers – have started to be rolled out locally,” Shufflebotham said. “This, alongside the uplift in councils supporting through-pavement charging, and an increase in local charging at supermarkets, car parks and fuel forecourts, will encourage more and more drivers to go electric.”
Industry Consolidation Ahead
The tough environment for charging companies, including intense competition and rising costs, has led to predictions of a wave of mergers and acquisitions, as stronger players acquire struggling rivals. Recently, InstaVolt, one of the largest companies, bought the smaller GeniePoint network.
