Research conducted by the RAC indicates that the UK Government has fallen short of its ambitious goal of deploying rapid or ultra-rapid EV chargers across motorway services in 2023.
The target was to have six or more rapid or ultra-rapid EV chargers available at every motorway service point, yet the reality paints a different picture.
Out of the 119 motorway service areas scrutinised by the RAC using Zapmap, merely 46, accounting for 39%, have achieved the intended number of chargers exceeding 50kW – a crucial capacity to cater to the burgeoning fleet of battery-electric vehicles.
Moreover, the number of rapid or ultra-rapid EV chargers has grown from just 27 (23%) from the end of April.
The goal was imperative considering the expectation that the UK’s electric vehicle count would surpass the one million mark by the end of 2023.
UK’s roadmap for EV charging
The government’s ‘Taking Charge: the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy’ aimed to expedite high-powered charger deployment via the £950m Rapid Charging Fund.
However, delays ensued, with the announcement of a £70m grant for a pilot scheme at ten motorway service stations only in early December 2023.
While the government foresees approximately 300,000 public chargers and over 6,000 high-powered chargers along strategic roads by 2035, forecasts from the Competition and Markets Authority suggest a larger requirement of 280,000-480,000 public charge points by 2030.
Areas for improvement in UK motorway services
Although there has been a notable increase in high-powered chargers, with an additional 178 installed since spring, the progress remains insufficient. Encouragingly, more than half of the services (55%) now offer ultra-rapid EV chargers, accelerating the process for drivers.
However, concerning gaps persist. Shockingly, four service areas—Leicester Forest on both sides of the M1, Tebay South on the M6, and Barton Park on the A1(M)—lack any charging facilities. Furthermore, only 18 service areas lack rapid EV charging above 50kW.
Comparative figures between the RAC research and Zapmap’s charging statistics reveal that a mere 6% of all high-powered chargers are available at motorway services, underlining the pressing need for accelerated infrastructure development.
Simon Williams, an RAC EV spokesperson, commented: “It’s clear from our research that the government has fallen well short of its target of having six high-powered chargers at every motorway service area in England.
“While that’s the case, some very good progress has been made since the end of April when we last carried out our survey, with four-in-ten services (39%) now having met or exceeded the target number of chargers, compared to just under a quarter (23%) eight months ago.
“There is undoubtedly an eagerness among charge point companies and motorway service operators to install these types of units but unfortunately, it’s often the high-power cabling to the grid that’s the major barrier which is out of their hands.
“More clearly needs to be done to make this process simpler than it is currently. Hopefully, once the government’s Rapid Charging Fund kicks fully into action some of these hurdles will be overcome.
“We continue to believe that the wide availability of ultra-rapid charging is crucial in giving both current and future EV drivers confidence to know they can easily make journeys beyond the range of their vehicles in a time-efficient way.”
Increasing charging compatibility
The analysis also sheds light on connector types, showcasing a 48% increase in Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors and a 32% rise in CHAdeMO connectors, addressing compatibility concerns for different electric car models.
The shortfall in meeting charging infrastructure targets signals the necessity for expedited action to support the burgeoning EV landscape and provide drivers with the confidence to undertake longer journeys without concerns about charging accessibility.
