Half of motorway services now have six or more ultra-rapid EV chargers as rollout ramps up this year

  • Ultra-rapid chargers can deliver 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes

By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER

Updated:

There have been 200 150kW+ ultra-rapid EV chargers installed at motorway services in England since the beginning of the year, new research shows.

As a result, almost half of motorway services in England now have six or more ultra-rapid chargers, Zapmap and the RAC have found.

These 150kW chargers can give 100 miles of range in 15 minutes and are positioned at motorway services to deliver fast battery top ups on long journeys.

200 additional 150kW+ ultra-rapid EV chargers have been installed at motorway services in England since the beginning of the year, new research from Zapmap and the RAC shows

200 additional 150kW+ ultra-rapid EV chargers have been installed at motorway services in England since the beginning of the year, new research from Zapmap and the RAC shows

The number of 150kW chargers increased 51 per cent in the last eight months – as installation numbers gather speed.

This means almost half (48 per cent or 55 sites) of the 114 motorway services in England now have six or more 150kW+ chargers, and many sites have faster speeds of up to 350kW.

Six motorway locations are fitted with more than 12 150kW+ chargers, while only four don't have high-powered chargers over 50kW.

The UK's estimated 1.17m EV drivers can now charge up in a matter of minutes using 595 of these chargers.

Ultra-rapid chargers have grown at a particularly high rate, with more than 2,300 installed this year. There are 60% more ultra-rapid chargers at the end of September 2024 than there were in December 2023

Ultra-rapid chargers have grown at a particularly high rate, with more than 2,300 installed this year. There are 60% more ultra-rapid chargers at the end of September 2024 than there were in December 2023

How does this track compared to government targets?

As of September 2024, Zapmap puts rapid or ultra-rapid charger count at 13,706 across 5,762 charging locations in the UK.

Rapid chargers are from 50kW to 149kW and ultra-rapid charge points from 150kW+.

In 2022, the previous government set a highly ambitious target of having six or more high powered 50kW+ chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023.

The most recent data shows this target hasn't been met, with only 54 per cent (61 sites) having this threshold of chargers.

However, the charging rollout direction has somewhat changed, with the charging industry delivering ultra-rapid chargers of 150kW instead: nearly two-thirds (64 per cent or 73 sites) of all motorway services in England have at least one 150kW+ charger.

Overall the number of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers has grown from 3,871 at the end of 2020, to 10,118 at the end of 2023 and more than 13,000 by September 2024 - a 36 per cent increase in devices since December 2023.

But ultra-rapid chargers have grown at a particularly high rate, with more than 2,300 installed this year. 

There are 60 per cent more ultra-rapid chargers at the end of September 2024 than there were in December 2023.

Which service stations have the best charger provision?

There are now six well-located motorway services that have more than 12 150kW+ devices; Reading, M4 east and westbound, Cobham M25, Exeter M5, Gloucester M5 northbound and Frankley M5 southbound.

The two services with the most 150kW+ chargers are Frankley on the M5 southbound which has 28 ultra-rapid chargers and Reading on the M4 westbound which has 25 ultra-rapid chargers.

And many locations also have additional Tesla chargers with Tesla recently opening up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla cars with subscriptions.

Tesla Superchargers charge up to 250kW, which can deliver up to 200 miles in only 15 minutes. 

Some 42 Supercharger sites with 477 chargers across them are open to all CCS-compatible EVs, and this is set to increase in the near future

Some 42 Supercharger sites with 477 chargers across them are open to all CCS-compatible EVs, and this is set to increase in the near future

Each motorway services has an average of seven 50kW+ chargers, meaning there is a total of 818 at 114 sites.

Looking only at ultra-rapid chargers, there's an average of five at every services in England (595 at 114 sites).

Only four service stations do not have any charging provision over 50kW at present. 

Two of these, Leicester Forest East M1 north and southbound, are run by Welcome Break which told the RAC and Zapmap there are difficulties bringing sufficient power to the sites.

The company is working to resolve this with National Grid Electricity Distribution, National Highways and the local authorities and hopes to install ultra-rapid chargers next year.

The other two other locations with no rapid charge points – Sedgemoor M5 northbound and Telford M54 – are still awaiting high-powered connections to the electricity grid. 

Gridserve, the charge point operator that runs the nationwide Electric Highway network at motorway services, confirmed it is hoping to start installing chargers at Sedgemoor in 2025.

Which EVs can charge at 350kW?

The Audi Q6 e-Tron, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Tesla Model 3 all charge above 250kW.  

The new Porsche Taycan and the Audi e-Tron GT can both charge up to 320kW, but the only EV to currently be able to charge at 350kW is the Lotus Eletre.

The Eletre can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes, and has a range of 373 miles.

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