Less than a quarter of 119 motorway services reviewed by the RAC on Zapmap currently have the target number of chargers to serve the UK’s estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles.
The RAC’s research found there are around 400 high-powered charging units situated at motorway services capable of charging 682 electric cars at one time. This means there is currently an average of just over three rapid or ultra-rapid chargers at motorway services.
There are currently fewer than 43,000 public charge points in the whole of the UK. A study from 2021 found that the installation of chargers needs to increase by five times the current rate if the plan to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 is to be achieved.
Last year, the government published a plan to accelerate the roll-out of high-powered chargers on the road network through the £950m Rapid Charging Fund so that EV drivers have confidence in the ability to undertake longer journeys.
The plan included...