Zap-Map has published its new quarterly figures for charge point installations in 2022, which found the number of ultra-rapid charge points has grown 11% to 1,434, this is matched by growing EV registrations so far in 2022 with an increase of 16% over the same period.
Zap-Map’s latest data showed the total EV charge points have grown 7% so far in 2022 to 30,409 across 19,150 locations. The 100+ kW DC ultra-rapid chargers were the fastest speed category of growth with 162 new devices (net 144), while there were also 250 new DC rapid chargers (25 to 99kW) installed (net 189), adding to the en-route provision and bringing the total rapid or ultra-rapid chargers available across the UK to 5,500.
While these devices account for less than 20% of the charge points, they make up around 60% of the available power capacity and are essential to support EV drivers en-route and for high speed top-ups, Zap-Map said.
Slow and fast chargers, from 3-22kW chargers, typically installed either at on-street locations for overnight charging or destinations for top-up charging, also increased by average of 7%.
In the first three months of 2022, there were 22 different networks that installed one of the 412 (net 333) new rapid or ultra-rapid charge points.
InstaVolt installed the highest absolute number of new charge devices, 67 – 65 of which were over 100kW power rating. These can be found at McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and KFC locations among others.
Furthermore, Gridserve Electric Highway has been busy upgrading the legacy Ecotricity chargers, replacing the old units with newer technology, and often adding greater numbers with more units at each location.
While Pod Point has traditionally been associated with AC destination charging, it is increasingly a player in the rapid charging market, having added 45 new rapid chargers, mainly at Tesco and Lidl stores.
Zap-Map also reported with the energy prices rising, the cost of charging on the public network is increasing. As of mid-March, the average cost of ultra-rapid and rapid chargers was 44p per kWh. This equates to around 13p per mile based on average EV efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh.
However, in comparison with ICE vehicles, having an average petrol price at £1.63 per litre and diesel at £1.77, motorists can expect to pay at least 20p per mile on all but the most efficient models. In addition, most EV drivers enjoy cheaper charging at home with prices around 20p per kWh, or even lower with off-peak EV tariffs or using electricity from solar panels, it found.
“EV charging use cases are diverse, and we need a diversity of charge speeds to match. Ultra-rapid chargers, which can add over 100 miles of range in minutes, are a crucial area of investment because they make long journeys easier,” said Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO of Zap-Map.
“EV sales are taking off, so the fact that ultra-rapid chargers are keeping step with sales is great news for EV drivers old and new who might be concerned about ‘range anxiety’.”
