The UK's rollout of public electric vehicle chargers has slowed significantly, with only 5,100 new units installed in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to 121,171, according to data company Zapmap. This represents a mere 10% increase compared to the same period last year, a sharp deceleration from growth rates exceeding 40% seen throughout 2024.
Industry Leaders Express Concern
Jarrod Birch, head of policy and public affairs at ChargeUK, a lobby group for the charging industry, acknowledged that the public charging network has doubled over the past three years, with rapid charging growing fastest and nine out of ten rapid chargers built outside London in the past year. However, he warned that the government's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, intended to provide certainty for investors, has been debated for three years under two administrations. "It is no surprise that investors are hesitating as doubt surrounds the policy once again," Birch said.
Steady Rollout but Uneven Growth
Melanie Shufflebotham, Zapmap's co-founder and chief operating officer, described the first-half installations as a "steady rollout," noting "high growth" in ultra-rapid chargers. She pointed to Levi funding, which has led to more tenders awarded for on-street chargers, and increasing support from councils for through-pavement charging, as well as more chargers at supermarkets, car parks, and fuel forecourts. "This will encourage more and more drivers to go electric," she said.
Calls for Fairer VAT on Public Charging
Guy Bartlett, chief executive of charge point operator Believ, argued that the current system unfairly penalizes millions of motorists who rely on public chargers because they lack off-street parking. Speaking to GB News after Believ secured a record contract to install thousands of EV charge points across Hampshire, Bartlett criticized ministers for sending "mixed messages" by pushing drivers toward electric vehicles while making public charging more expensive. He called for balancing the 20% VAT on public charging with the 5% rate on domestic charging, stating, "Don't punish people who haven't got off-street parking."
