The UK's rollout of electric vehicle chargers has slowed markedly in the first half of 2026, amid challenging cost pressures and uncertainty over government sales targets. Charger companies installed 5,100 new public charge points, bringing the total to 121,171, according to data company Zapmap. This represents a 10% increase compared to the same period last year, a sharp decline from growth rates above 40% in 2024.
Growth slowdown threatens 2030 target
Although the pace of growth may naturally slow as the network expands, it must remain high to meet the UK government's target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030 and keep pace with rising electric car sales. The number of EVs on British roads surpassed 2 million in April. However, charger installations have slowed considerably over the past two years, driven by concerns about the pace of the transition away from petrol and diesel engines.
The car industry across the UK and Europe has lobbied heavily for the government to weaken sales targets under the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which enforces a rapid increase in electric car sales each year. The Labour government has already added loopholes, known as flexibilities, to the mandate introduced by the Conservatives in 2023. These allow manufacturers to sell more petrol-engine cars, and the government is considering lowering the headline target for EV sales from 80% by 2030 to as low as 50%.
Industry calls for policy certainty
Jarrod Birch, head of policy and public affairs at ChargeUK, a lobby group for the charging industry, said: “The public charging network has doubled over the past three years, and rapid charging is growing quickest of all, with nine in 10 built outside of London in the past 12 months. It is a British success story, funded by private investment made on the certainty of future customers that the government’s ZEV mandate provides. But the mandate has now been argued over for three years, under two governments. It is no surprise that investors are hesitating as doubt surrounds the policy once again.”
Ultra-rapid chargers see high growth
Zapmap's figures suggest firms are focusing particularly on ultra-rapid chargers, with a 37% increase in numbers year on year. These chargers, which deliver more than 150 kilowatts (kW) of power, are typically located by motorways and main roads for drivers to top up quickly on longer journeys. They tend to be more profitable than standard or rapid chargers, as companies can charge higher prices and serve more drivers each day.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Zapmap's co-founder and chief operating officer, said the installations in the first half of 2026 still represent “a steady rollout” overall, with “high growth” in the ultra-rapid segment. She added that councils are finally rolling out chargers funded by the government's local electric vehicle infrastructure (Levi) scheme, aimed at providing more on-street chargers for people without private parking.
Local charging infrastructure expands
“The Levi funding has seen an increased number of tenders awarded, and these – generally on-street chargers – have started to be rolled out locally,” Shufflebotham said. “This, alongside the uplift in councils supporting through-pavement charging, and an increase in local charging at supermarkets, car parks and fuel forecourts, will encourage more and more drivers to go electric.”
The tough environment for charging companies, which also face intense industry competition and rising costs, has prompted predictions of a wave of mergers and acquisitions as stronger players snap up struggling rivals. One of the largest companies, InstaVolt, recently bought the smaller GeniePoint network.
