Wales is leading the way with public charging points, according to the latest analysis.
As EV ownership surges across the UK, new analysis from Dick Lovett reveals a potential problem in the country as areas are being left behind by charging infrastructure, creating regional ‘EV deserts.’
Dick Lovett analysed EV adoption and public charging data across 400+ UK local authorities, tracking how ultra-low emission vehicles and charging networks have grown since 2020.
The findings revealed a widening gap between where EV numbers are rising fastest and where public and rapid chargers are actually keeping pace, unveiling a regional inequality in the transition to EVs where postcode-level practicality may come into play for drivers as the ease of owning an EV increasingly depends on where they live, not just what they drive.
Wales now leads the UK for balanced EV growth and charging access, outperforming England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In 2020, Wales had 4,482 ultra low emission vehicles on the road, representing 0.3% of all vehicles. Today, this number has increased to 35,290, a rise of 687%, bringing EV share to 2.3%.
Over the same period, the public EV charging station network grew from 648 to 3,519 devices, an increase of 443%, while rapid chargers saw even stronger growth, rising from 85 to 753, an increase of 786%.
For a nation with a wide geographic spread and many rural communities, this level of progress and balance between adoption and infrastructure is evidence of a consistent commitment to preparing for higher EV demand over the years.
Key findings include:
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UK EV numbers have risen 579% since 2020, but public charging has grown by only 349%, creating mounting pressure in many areas.
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Wales now leads the UK for balanced EV growth and charging access, outperforming England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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England has the largest EV population, but progress is highly uneven, with some regions benefiting from LEVI funding far more effectively than others.
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The East of England, North West and East Midlands show the strongest alignment between EV uptake and charger rollout.
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Areas including the North East, South West, and several rural and coastal authorities risk becoming EV deserts, where drivers face crowded chargers, longer detours and reduced reliability.
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At a local level, places like North West Leicestershire and Birmingham are excelling, while authorities such as Torridge, Havant, and island communities are struggling to keep pace.
