There was a significant increase in the availability and usage of ultra-rapid chargers across the UK in 2020, new research from Zap-Map has revealed.
The electric vehicle (EV) mapping company has published a report following its annual charging survey, which polled 2,200 EV drivers in total.
It revealed there are now 788 ultra-rapid chargers across the UK – up from 476 at the end of 2019 – representing a more than 65 per cent increase.
Furthermore, ultra-rapid chargers, which Zap-Map defines as having a capacity of at least 100 kilowatts, are becoming more familiar to drivers. Their usage increased five-fold last year, with 16 per cent of respondents saying they had charged their vehicle with one in 2020, up from 3 per cent the year before.
Despite 83 per cent of EV drivers saying they regularly charge at home, more than 90 per cent also use the public charging network, with 39 per cent accessing public chargers at least once a week.
This overall usage has fallen from the 2019 figure of 94 per cent, which Zap-Map says is most likely due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In previous years, motorway service stations have been the most popular charging location types.
However, an increase in the number of chargepoints available in supermarkets, combined with the availability of free charging at some of the major chains, is thought to be behind the reason why slightly more people said they now charge at supermarkets (48 per cent) rather than service stations (47 per cent) and public car parks (32 per cent).
Ben Lane, co-founder and chief technical officer at Zap-Map, said: “This new report comes at a crucial time for the EV market. Competition among car manufacturers and charge point operators is becoming fierce and the industry is growing fast. The insights in this year’s wide-ranging report show that EV drivers are adapting to changes in the market.
“One of the clear conclusions is the importance of having a robust and reliable charging network. As the number of EVs continues its upward march, it’s vital that drivers are offered the simplest and smoothest experience possible.”