Guidance

Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: Methodology note

Updated 26 February 2026

The latest background information for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics collection can be found in the frequently asked questions document.

Introduction

This methodological note accompanies the electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics release series. It provides background information about the data used and the methodology behind the statistics produced for this release series.

Feedback from users of these statistics is welcomed and can be provided via evci.stats@dft.gov.uk.

Quality

These statistics are released under the official statistics in development label. These are official statistics undergoing development and testing with users, in line with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

These statistics do not meet the rigorous quality standards of accredited official statistics.

Specific questions regarding accuracy of these statistics are answered in the frequently asked questions document.

Developments

As these statistics are labelled official statistics in development, this release series is undergoing a development phase. Evaluation of quality, accuracy, reliability and value takes place for each new development. This release series is expected to remain labelled as official statistics in development for the foreseeable future as the scope of published materials increases. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a rapidly developing policy area, so this release series develops alongside changes in policy and user interest. For example, the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 presents opportunities to develop the contents of this release series.

Significant developments to this statistical series have taken place with the introduction of EV charger (EVSE) statistics. Specific areas for further development are covered in the frequently asked questions document.

Data source

Data is provided by individual charge point operators (CPOs) as set out in the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 guidance and collated by Zapmap for use by Department for Transport. The data represents a snapshot of publicly accessible EV chargers across the United Kingdom reported as operational at midnight at the start each quarter.

Coverage

Zapmap compile CPO data with coverage of over 95% of the public charging network. These data do not cover privately owned domestic or workplace devices that are not accessible to the public. This means that the total United Kingdom charging infrastructure will be higher than estimated in this publication.

How charging infrastructure  is quantified

Before 2026, public charging statistics in this release series only presented data on ‘charging devices’. Devices are physical units with connecting sockets capable of charging the batteries of plug-in electric vehicles. Each charging device may offer one, or multiple connecting sockets. Some devices can charge only one vehicle at once, and others can charge multiple simultaneously, which means that some devices have greater charging capability than others regardless of the number of sockets.

There are often multiple charging devices near one another. As devices can sometimes charge multiple vehicles simultaneously, charging capability is likely to be higher than the number of charging devices in any given location.

From 2026, public charging statistics in this release also presents EV charger (EVSE) statistics. More information about the introduction of EV charger statistics can be found in the frequently asked questions document.

Charging device geography

This release series contains statistics and data on public charging infrastructure within the United Kingdom’s administrative geographies such as regions, local authorities, and parliamentary constituencies. Charging locations are matched to these administrative geographies using data, definitions and boundaries set by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Access the ONS Geography Portal to see the geographical area covered by any administrative geography in these statistics.

The local authority administrative geographies and parliamentary constituency data is sourced from the Office for National Statistics Geography Portal. The administrative geographies in this release series are subject to change alongside changes to local authority areas or parliamentary constituency boundaries.

To compare charging provision while accounting for large population differences across the countries and regions of the United Kingdom, geographic data tables present per 100,000 population statistics. The most recent population figures are sourced from the ONS Population estimates for mid-year 2024.

Rural Urban statistics are created using RUC2021. Estimates before January 2026 used RUC2011. Please see the ONS website for more information.

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Contact details

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics

Email evci.stats@dft.gov.uk