Zapmap data shows EV charger utilisation stable | electric fleet

Utilisation of the UK’s public EV charging infrastructure has remained stable despite increasing capacity, new research has found.

Charger mapping service Zapmap has published the third edition of its utilisation report in collaboration with the Green Finance Institute, covering the period from Q1 2024 to Q4 2025.

Among the findings from the report was that time-based utilisation of ultra-rapid (150kW+) chargers was 12.8% on average in Q4 2025, compared with 12.4% a year earlier, despite ultra-rapid charger provision having grown by 40% in that time.

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The overall charging network grew by 13% in the year to December 2025, while total energy delivered grew by 21%.

Ultra-rapid chargers accounted for an estimated 52% of the energy delivered by public chargers in Q4 2025, up from 44% a year earlier.

Ultra-rapid charging speeds not fully utilised

The report also notes that ultra-rapid chargers have the largest gap between stated charging speeds and actual charge rates, with a 55.4kW average representing 26% of their stated rating. The gap is largely attributed to vehicle acceptance limits, charging curves and grid constraints.

Charge point operators are said to be deploying dynamic load balancing, modular power architectures and on-site battery storage to improve throughput consistency and reduce the cost of capacity.

Jade Edwards, head of insights at Zapmap, said: “The fact that utilisation has held steady despite a 40% expansion in ultra-rapid infrastructure is a powerful indicator that the UK’s charging network is not just growing, but is also becoming increasingly resilient.

“What is particularly encouraging in this latest report is seeing how leading operators are already bridging the gap between rated and real-world power. By deploying dynamic load balancing and on-site storage, the industry is making the network more resilient and efficient, measures that are vital for building driver confidence.

“Knowing that a site can manage peak demand intelligently ensures that the next wave of EV adopters will find a reliable and capable public network ready for them.”

Jonathan Heybrock, of the Green Finance Institute, said: “As the UK’s drivers increasingly adopt EVs, it is vital that we equip investors, policymakers and charge point operators with a clearer understanding of how utilisation and efficiency will define the next phase of the EV rollout.

“This third edition of the paper highlights the ‘efficiency gap’ between kW stated power ratings and real-world delivery, a factor that is now central to financial modelling for those funding the decarbonisation of road transport.

“By showcasing how site hosts and operators use phased capacity, battery buffering and on-site energy storage, we aim to demonstrate that the business case for these sites remains strong and is effectively future-proofed for the next generation of vehicles.”