The number of electric vehicle charging points in the UK has exceeded the number of fuel stations, according to a study.
Car manufacturer Nissan analysed data from the Energy Institute and Zap-Map to find there are now 9199 EV charging locations across the country compared to 8396 fuel stations.
Of the charge points, more than 1600 provide rapid charging which can recharge a typical battery to around 80% in less than an hour.
The EV figure has risen 38% in a year from 6669 in 2018 and more than doubled since 2016, while the number of petrol stations has peaked and begun to decline. It is worth noting that the EV figure includes stations with as few as one charging point, however.
Nissan credited Transport for London with installing over 1000 EV charging points in the last year. The London EV Infrastructure Delivery Plan announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s administration in June will see five rapid charging hubs installed across the city. It aims to install the first hub in the Square Mile area by the end of this year.
Kalyana Sivagnanam, managing director of Nissan Motor Great Britain, said: “We’ve moved beyond the early concerns of range anxiety with EVs now exceeding the vast majority of customer’s daily driving needs. The next challenge is for charging infrastructure to keep pace with the number of EVs on the road, and that the experience of recharging is as enjoyable and effortless as that of all-electric driving.”
While major couriers are showing considerable interest in electric vehicles, many cite the lack of charging infrastructure as a considerable obstacle.
DPD recently announced it is rolling out a new charging grid for its electric vehicles in the UK, allowing it to expand its fleet. The courier is working with Rolec EV, a manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charge points, to install the network across its 60 UK distribution centres.
