Britain's electric vehicle (EV) charging network is set to be significantly smaller by 2030 than original government projections, new data has suggested.
A target of 300,000 public charging points will be missing based on annual statistics, which showed fewer than 9,000 units were installed in 2022, taking the total number in the UK to just 37,680 said the Department for Transport.
Roughly 37,500 charging points will now have to be built annually from 2023-2029 for the 300,000 target to be met, representing early growth of nearly 92%, rather than the 7% predicted in 2022.
Labour MPs, calling on the government to boost its EV infrastructure rollout, claimed the UK would be "20 years" behind schedule by 2030 based on the speed of the current rollout.
“New EVs are flying off the factory floor, but we desperately need charge point installations to keep pace with an ever-growing demand,” said AA road policy head Jack Cousens, also urging the government to do more.
As of December 2022, around 660,000 battery EV’s were registered in the UK, up from 206,000 in 2020 and 40% more than were in 2021, according to data website Zap Map.
EVs accounted for almost one-third of all UK vehicles produced in 2022, with a record 234,066 units coming from British-based factories.
Last year also saw EV sales surpass diesel cars for the first time, making up a fifth of newly purchased cars in the UK.
National Grid’s system operating wing (ESO) anticipates the number of UK-registered EVs will rise to 37.4mln by 2050, making the need for new charge points ever more pressing.
“The private sector has a critical role to play in providing convenient, affordable and reliable charging for all,” wrote the government in its EV infrastructure strategy report, where it also earmarked £1.45bn worth of public investment.
BP is among firms rolling out EV chargers, with plans to install 900 points in partnership with Marks and Spencer in the next two years.