UK Public EV Chargers Now Outnumber Fuel Pumps, DfT Analysis Finds

New analysis from the Department for Transport (DfT) indicates that the number of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the UK has surpassed the total number of traditional fuel pumps.

The assessment draws on a combination of datasets, including official government figures on EV infrastructure, industry data from the Petrol Retailers Association, and research commissioned by the RAC Foundation.

Government statistics show there were 116,052 public EV chargepoints available nationwide at the start of the year. In contrast, because there is no single definitive source for fuel pump numbers, the DfT produced an estimate based on available industry data.

Using figures that place the number of petrol stations at 8,329, alongside an average of 7.3 pumps per site, the department calculated there are approximately 60,800 fuel pumps across the UK.

This suggests that public EV chargers now significantly outnumber conventional fuelling points, highlighting the rapid growth of charging infrastructure as electric vehicle uptake continues to increase.

Industry figures also point to improving user confidence. Research from EVA England found that 69% of EV drivers believe the charging network has improved over the past 12 months.

Vicky Edmonds said the milestone reflects meaningful progress in supporting the transition to electric vehicles, but stressed that further work is needed to ensure charging is reliable, affordable and accessible in all locations.

While the expansion marks a significant step forward, continued investment will be essential to meet future demand and ensure the network keeps pace with the accelerating shift towards electric mobility.