In an era of connected devices, artificial intelligence and machine learning, we have more data at our fingertips than ever before, giving us access to a wealth of facts and figures about the shape of electric vehicle charging across the UK. And as 2024 comes to a close, it’s a perfect opportunity to look back on some of those numbers and see the successes that shine through. Take nearly 2.5 million charging sessions on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway with over 60GWh of energy delivered – enough to power over 250 million electric vehicles miles. Those huge numbers are driven by unprecedented rollout of High Power charging across the country. We’ve added over 400 High Power charging bays this year, with new key locations like Stevenage Electric Forecourt® opened alongside expansions at some of our busiest sites, such as Moto Exeter, Moto Cherwell Valley and Moto Rugby. And it’s a story replicated across the industry. Charge point numbers have doubled in the past two years, with almost one charger for every EV on the road. Continuing at the current rate the UK will have more than 300,000 public chargers installed in line with government targets. The reality, now more than ever, is that you can own an EV without having a home charger and travel comfortably across the nation with no range anxiety. And the ‘if you build it, they will come’ mentality is working. According to the SMMT, one in five new cars are now battery electric, with the number registered in 2024, up 18% year-on-year to over 300,000. It places the UK as Europe’s second biggest new electric car market, closing the gap on Germany.

Looking ahead to 2025

So, what can all this data tell us about 2025? It is true, we are in a strong position, but we must also accept 2024 was not without its challenges, from global economic forces to government policy decisions, which may threaten to stymie EV progress over the next 12 months and more. For example, any weakening of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate will destabilise vital investment in future charging infrastructure projects, in turn impacting mass adoption of electric vehicles. It is critical that government and industry work hand-in-hand to steer a clear, efficient and consistent path. And what might that look like? We would welcome consideration of additional incentives that support both EV adoption and the business case for EV charging installation, such as VAT reduction and inclusion of charging in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. Wrapped in policy language these changes will provide a material business and economic benefit but they will also do so much more. And there is an important message here. We must remember to look beyond the data and policy and find the people behind them: the customer. We need to send a clear message in simple language to the customer. We need to make the transition to electric cars easier, cheaper and less intimidating for people. By doing this, we can meet our targets and create a cleaner and more sustainable future for all.