Six networks install 70% of new high-speed EV chargers

Zap-Map, the UK mapping app for EV charge points, has published its latest analysis of new charge point installations for the first quarter of 2022. The data shows the number of ultra-rapid charge points has grown 11% to 1,434, which Zap-Map describes as “broadly in line with the growth of pure battery powered vehicles on the road in 2022 which grew by 16% over the same period.”

Total EV charge points, it says, have grown 7% so far in 2022 to 30,409 across 19,150 locations. The 100+ kW DC ultra-rapid chargers were the fastest category of growth with 162 new devices, while there were also 250 new 25 to 99kW DC rapid chargers, bringing the total rapid or ultra-rapid chargers available across the UK to 5,500.

Zap-Map says while these devices account for less than 20% of the charge points, they make up around 60% of the available power capacity and are essential to support EV drivers “en-route and for fast top-ups”.

In the first three months of 2022, Zap-Map identified that 22 different networks installed a total of 412 new rapid or ultra-rapid charge points. Six networks – InstaVolt, GridServe, Pod Point, Tesla, bp pulse and GeniePoint installed 70% of the new high-speed provision

Slow and fast chargers, from 3-22kW typically installed either at on-street locations for overnight charging or destinations for top-up charging, increased by average of 7%.

Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO of Zap-Map said “EV charging use cases are diverse and we need a diversity of charge speeds to match. Ultra-rapid chargers, which can add over 100 miles of range in minutes, are a crucial area of investment because they make long journeys easier. EV sales are taking off, so the fact that ultra-rapid chargers are keeping step with sales is great news for EV drivers.”

However latest new car sales data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows EV sales skyrocketing and charging networks may soon struggle to keep pace. In March SMMT reported battery electric vehicles achieved a 16.1% market share with 39,315 fully electric cars leaving dealerships – a year on year increase of 79%. Furthermore, more pure electrics were registered in March 2022 than during the entirety of 2019 and electrified vehicles, including hybrid formats, accounted for one in three new car registrations.