North-South divide as EV charge point installation slows
Motorists face a 'North-South divide' as the rollout of electric car charging points slams into reverse.A mere 628 public chargers were installed in December, taking the total number added last year to 14,097, according to industry group Zapmap.That was down nearly 30 per cent on the 19,834 installed in 2024 and more than 2,500 fewer than in 2023. The report also reveals a disparity in public charging points, with almost one in three in London and nearly half in London and the South East.Of the 87,796 chargers installed, 27,895 are in London and the South East has 11,136. Running out of gas: A mere 628 public chargers were installed in December, taking the total number added last year to 14,097, according to industry group ZapmapBy contrast, there are just 2,550 in the North East. Westminster alone has more public charging points than Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle combined.Experts warned a shortage of charge points will fuel 'range anxiety' and lead drivers to lose faith in the green transition.Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric vehicle (EV) buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said: 'A lack of reliable charging in northern cities directly undermines confidence in EV driving. This is a real North–South divide. When one London borough has more chargers than five major northern cities combined, it sends a clear signal to drivers outside the South that the system isn't working for them.'Buckley said Coventry also has more chargers than Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield combined, despite having only one eighth of the population.Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'If there's one issue that still weighs heavily in the minds of motorists wavering about going electric it is how comfortable they feel about being able to recharge their cars. Confidence in the public charging network is not just a numbers game, drivers also need to be assured that chargers will be available, working and easy to use.'The figures come as a hammer blow to Labour's Net Zero plans and the goal of having 300,000 public charging points installed by 2030. The Government is also facing a backlash over the Budget announcement of a pay-per-mile EV excise duty of 3p per mile, and 1.5p for hybrids.Vicky Read, boss of EV lobby group Charge UK, said: 'This is not the time for complacency.' CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST We take a ride in Jaguar's forthcoming all-electric £140k 4-door GT Peugeot e-3008 Dual Motor: Is it worth paying £50k for a Peugeot EV? Has Labour killed off the pick-up truck? We test three popular models Why the new £200k 'everyday Ferrari' supercar is right on the button New Renault Clio driven: French supermini won't come to UK until 2027 Just another electric SUV? How Citroen's new e-C5 Aircross stands out MG S6 EV is ANOTHER 'premium' electric family SUV - does it stand out? Is Vauxhall's Frontera good value to challenge Chinese rivals? Alpine A390 is a sophisticated electric cruiser with sporty ambitions China's smash-hit cheap electric G-Wagon: £22k ICaur V23 driven Geely's electric EX5 would be a gem if it wasn't such a control freak Volvo ES90: Is this luxury electric saloon better than an EV SUV? New Nissan Leaf driven: Mk3 version of the first mass-market EV Is this the best seven-seater on sale? Hyundai's Santa Fe review It it more than just a tribute act? Nissan's all-electric Micra driven Volvo's gone from sensible to cool: XC90 and EX30 Cross Country driven Aston Martin DBX S driven: Our review of the school-run super-SUV MG launches new affordable IM5 and IM6 EVs - we test the Tesla rivals The Genesis electric limo that got RAY MASSEY to the church on time Omoda 9 SHS plug-in hybrid review: We drive it through 9 countries Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is so good James Bond would be shaken Buckle up for a chat with the new AI-backed electric Mercedes-Benz CLA Vauxhall Grandland test: It's always a Grand day out in this roomy SUV Mini Aceman JCW EV packs plenty of poke - but is it too much power? Is life a beach with the Renault 4 or another EV wipeout? We drive it Britain's best-selling car has gone electric: Ford Puma Gen-E review MG S5 EV driven: Is this the best budget-friendly electric family car? Vauxhall's Mokka is a treat to drive - but there's one major problem Dacia's new Bigster is big on comfort and a lot of car for your £25k Aston Martin's £175,000 Vantage Roadster is a V for Victory Audi Q5 is its best seller - we went to Morocco to try the new version Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo is speedy, sporty... and super expensive The French electric revolution: Driving Citroen's new £22k e-C3 EV Driving Rolls-Royce's most powerful car EVER: Black Badge Spectre Jaecoo 7 SHS review: China's £35k Range Rover rival driven in the UK The Honda Jazz is an underappreciated star: We test the latest version We drive the blisteringly fast new open top Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider Is this Porsche's ultimate family sportscar? Macan GTS tested Last petrol Jag: F-Type review ahead of Jaguar's big electric move Hyundai Inster review: Is it the affordable EV we've been waiting for? Audi A6 e-tron Avant: Can the beloved exec estate deliver as an EV? The most controversial new car of 2024: We drive the Ford Capri EV Has Vauxhall's grand plans for its new Grandland SUV paid dividends? Aston Martin Vanquish: Britain's new brute of a sports car tested Renault 5 EV: Can it recreate the character and charm of the original? Polestar 4 EV: The first car sold in Britain WITHOUT a rear window We take to the wheel of Ferrari's stunning new £336k 12Cilindri GT car China's new sub-£16k EV: Leapmotor T03 arrives in UK with low price Peugeot E-5008: Is the £49k SUV the choice for eco-conscious families? Ducati's new £30,000 Panigale V4 S costs the same as a small Mercedes Is the new £22k MG ZS hybrid family-friendly SUV a genuine bargain? This £100k Volvo has driven me to distraction: EX90 SUV driven VW Touareg is a luxury SUV for a lower price - why is it so unpopular? We test the new MG HS - Britain's favourite budget-friendly family SUV We test drive the £15,000 Dacia Spring - the UK's CHEAPEST new EV Suitable for UK climates: You can enjoy Mercedes CLE Cabrio year round MG Cyberster review - convertible EV costs £60k and is fun to drive 'Euros' winning Renault Scenic E-Tech gets Ray Massey's vote Ford Explorer: Is the £40k electric SUV a good buy for UK drivers? Polestar 3: Does the Tesla Model Y now have a real fight on its hands? Lotus Eletre is an EV Lamborghini Urus rival: The hyper-SUV tested Dacia's new Duster is here - has it lost its value-for-money appeal?
Share or comment on this article:
North-South divide as EV charge point installation slows
