Business Green/Toby Hill: EV charge points outstrip petrol stations for first time ever

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Transport

EV charge points outstrip petrol stations for first time ever

The EV revolution is picking up speed
The EV revolution is picking up speed

Toby Hill
 29 May 2019

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There are now more EV charging locations than petrol stations in the UK, according to the latest industry data

The journey towards decarbonising Britain's roads passed an important milestone yesterday, with the number of public electric vehicle charging locations surpassing petrol stations for the first time.

As of May 28, there are now 8,546  EV charging locations across the UK according to figures from EV charging specialists Zap-Map. By contrast, as of the end of April the UK boasts 8,400 petrol stations.
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"The public and private sectors are now investing heavily in the UK's EV charging infrastructure to ensure that there are sufficient charging points to support the growing electric fleet," said Ben Lane, co-founder and CTO at Zap-Map.

"This month's milestone reveals the rapid pace of change already underway as the age of the combustion engine gives way to an all-electric era with vehicles offering both zero-emissions and a better driving experience."

Recent research from Confused.com found seven in 10 drivers were discouraged from buying EVs over a perceived lack of charging stations.

But the number of public locations has grown 57 per cent in the past 12 months. Charging points can now be found across the length and breadth of the UK, from the Shetland Islands to the Cornish Riviera, and from Giant's Causeway to the White Cliffs of Dover.

This expanding network - accessible to all EV drivers - supports an increasing number of electric vehicles, which now sits at 210,000, up from 3,500 just six years ago. By the end of 2022, more than a million EVs will be in use across the UK, according to forecasts from charge point provider Chargemaster.

"Tackling the climate crisis means electric vehicles need to go mainstream," commented Juliet Davenport, founder of renewable energy provider Good Energy, which bought a stake in Zap-Map earlier this year. "This milestone shows how rapidly we are moving in that direction, away from polluting petrol and diesel cars. We still have a long way to go but the future of transport is electric."

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    Topics Transport Automotive Electric Vehicles charging infrastructure Good Energy Zap Map

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