Back in 2019, When EVSTOR First Started
Back in 2019, when EVSTOR first started, the UK’s public EV charging network looked very different. Electric vehicles were still a niche choice, and finding a reliable rapid charger on a long journey could feel like a treasure hunt. At that time, there were only around 15,100 public charging devices nationwide, and many of those were slow or outdated units.
EVSTOR was founded at this pivotal moment, when EV adoption was starting to grow but infrastructure simply hadn’t caught up yet. Range anxiety wasn’t just about how far your car could go on a single charge — it was about whether you could find a charger at all, especially one powerful enough to get you back on the road quickly.
Fast forward to today, and things couldn’t be more different. As of mid-2025, the UK now boasts over 84,000 public charging devices, including 17,000+ rapid and ultra-rapid chargers capable of delivering the kind of power that makes long-distance EV travel practical and convenient.
That’s a five-fold increase in just six years, showing how quickly infrastructure can grow when investment and technology align.
Busting the “EV Charging Takes Too Long” Myth
One of the biggest myths we’ve battled since our early days is the idea that charging an EV is a painfully slow process. This was partly true back in 2019, when the average rapid charger delivered 50–75 kW and many cars couldn’t take advantage of higher speeds.
Today, thanks to a combination of 800-volt vehicle architectures, advanced thermal management systems, and ultra-rapid chargers capable of 350 kW or more, that narrative has been completely flipped on its head.
Many modern EVs can now go from 10% to 80% in as little as 12–15 minutes — about the same time it takes to grab a coffee, use the facilities, and stretch your legs at a motorway services. This makes real-world charging stops feel no different from traditional fuel stops, with the added benefit that you get to recharge yourself and your vehicle at the same time.
Then vs Now: Tesla Model S (2019) vs Zeekr 7X (2025)
To understand just how far we’ve come, let’s compare two examples from opposite ends of the timeline.
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Tesla Model S (2019)
In 2019, even with Tesla’s well-developed Supercharger network, a Model S would typically take 40–65 minutes to charge from 0-80%, depending on charger power and conditions. -
Zeekr 7X (2025)
The upcoming Zeekr 7X, with its state-of-the-art 800-volt battery system, can achieve a 10-80% charge in just 12–16 minutes using modern ultra-rapid chargers.
In ideal conditions with the latest 840 kW chargers, that drops to around 9 minutes — a charging experience that rivals the speed of filling up a petrol or diesel car.
This leap in performance shows how far EV charging technology has evolved in a very short space of time.
Battery Chemistry: The Shift from NMC to LFP
The improvements aren’t just about charger hardware — battery chemistry has also been advancing.
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NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries were the go-to choice for EVs in 2019 thanks to their high energy density, which gave cars impressive range.
However, they are expensive to produce and more prone to wear when charged repeatedly at high rates. -
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries are becoming increasingly popular today.
While they have slightly lower energy density, they are cheaper, safer, and more robust, especially when it comes to handling frequent rapid charging sessions without degrading.
The transition to LFP technology means faster charging times, longer battery life, and ultimately lower costs for consumers — all key factors in accelerating EV adoption.
Public Chargers vs. Home Charging
It’s important to note that all the figures in this article only cover public charging infrastructure — fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid chargers available to all EV drivers.
They do not include the huge number of home chargers or private workplace charging points already in use.
For many EV owners, most charging is done at home overnight, using lower-powered wall boxes. This makes public chargers essential primarily for:
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Long journeys where a quick top-up is needed mid-route.
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Urban EV drivers without off-street parking.
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Fleet and commercial vehicles that require high uptime and fast turnaround.
The rapid and ultra-rapid chargers discussed here represent top-up charging, not the bulk of day-to-day EV charging activity.
How Many Public Chargers Do We Really Need?
As of mid-2025, there are 84,000 public chargers in the UK.
This sounds impressive, but it’s still a fraction of what will be required once the UK’s vehicle fleet transitions fully to electric.
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The UK currently has around 33 million cars on the road.
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Assuming 70% of those vehicles rely on public charging (with the rest charging primarily at home or work), that’s 23 million cars needing access to the public network.
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Based on usage data from countries with high EV adoption, a healthy ratio is roughly one public charger per 20–30 vehicles to avoid queues and maintain availability.
Using this ratio:
| Scenario | Cars per Charger | Public Chargers Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 30 cars per charger | ~766,000 |
| Balanced | 25 cars per charger | ~920,000 |
| Ideal | 20 cars per charger | ~1,150,000 |
So to sustain a 100% electric car fleet, the UK would likely need between 750,000 and 1.15 million public chargers — around 10 to 14 times more than we have today.
Projected Timeline Based on Growth Rates
Between 2019 and 2025, the UK added an average of 11,500 chargers per year, growing from 15,100 to 84,000.
If that exact growth rate continued without acceleration:
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750,000 chargers would be reached in roughly 58 years, taking us to 2083 — far too late to meet the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
However, growth is not linear. In 2024–2025 alone, the UK added 15,000–20,000 chargers, showing the rate is accelerating.
If we assume an average of 25,000 per year going forward, the UK would reach 750,000 chargers by around 2052.
To realistically meet the 2035 target, the pace would need to triple again, adding 50,000–60,000 chargers annually.
At that rate, the UK could hit the required infrastructure level by 2037–2038, just in time to support a fully electric fleet.
Summary: How Far We’ve Come — And What It Will Take to Go Further
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In 2019, there were just 15,100 public chargers across the UK.
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In 2025, that number has risen to 84,000, including over 17,000 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers.
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Charging times have been slashed, with 80% top-ups now taking 12–15 minutes instead of 40–65 minutes.
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To support a fully electric fleet, we’ll need 750,000–1.15 million public chargers, a 10–14× increase from today.
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This does not include home or workplace chargers, which already make up a significant part of EV charging for many drivers.
In only six years, the UK has multiplied its public charging network fivefold. With full-blown adoption, smart policy, and private investment, it’s possible to achieve these ambitious targets much sooner — but doing so will require a strong grid capable of supporting rapid, widespread growth.
That’s a huge topic in itself, which we’ll explore in another article.
Final Thoughts
When EVSTOR first started, EV drivers faced a world of uncertainty: limited chargers, slow speeds, and the fear of being stranded far from home. Six years later, the landscape has transformed.
Thanks to massive infrastructure growth, breakthroughs in battery technology, and ultra-rapid charging speeds, the “not enough chargers” myth is finally being put to rest.
The next challenge is scaling up quickly enough to meet the demands of a fully electric future — a future that’s now well within reach.
