Zapmap survey supports the importance of public EV charging

If you’re an EV driver, or looking to make the switch, you’ll probably know Zapmap well! When you’re planning your route, Zapmap can be invaluable in providing up to date info on where operational EV chargers are, and with over 850,000 users it’s certainly a popular tool. Every year (for the past 7), Zapmap has conducted a driver survey to find out more about EV driver behaviour and responses to things like charge point infrastructure, locations, volume of options, and the vehicles themselves. The results of the 2024 survey have just been published in their annual charging insights report, and they make interesting reading.

 

Results highlights

Over 3,746 drivers of fully electric vehicles have taken part, and here are the key take outs:

  • 71% of respondents have a dedicated home charger, but 51% use public charging at least monthly
  • The average satisfaction rating for publicly available chargers was 64 out of 100
  • 61% of responding drivers say public charging infrastructure has improved in the last year for reliability and overall growth
  • The use of charging hubs is on the rise, with 53% saying they use hubs to charge. This has risen from 47% last year, reflecting the growth in hub destinations. Zapmap reports there are 486 rapid charging hubs across the UK, open to all EVs.
  • Motorway service stations are currently still the most popular place to charge with 58% of respondents charging EVs there
  • Supermarket charging has dropped to 38%, potentially due to the removal of free charging options
  • Drivers are also satisfied with their EVs. Zapmap reports an average satisfaction score of 87 out of 100, with cost-effectiveness (78%), environmental benefits (73%), and better vehicle performance (65%) as the reasons for owning an EV.

 

 

The continuing importance of Public EV Charging Infrastructure

With over half of survey respondents using public charging infrastructure, it just goes to show that reliable, publicly available EV charging is more important than ever.

According to Zapmap’s own figures, public charging has increased by 38% over the last 12 months andZapmap’s latest survey finds that that 61% of respondents say public charging infrastructure has improved in the last year in terms of reliability and growth.

With the new rules for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) now in effect, it will be interesting to see what the coming years brings too, in terms of improved customer experience.

 

Reaction

Jade Edwards, Head of Insights at Zapmap, said:

“As the UK transitions to electric, with now over 1.3 million BEVs on our roads, it’s good to see EV drivers reporting an increase in satisfaction with the charging infrastructure. However, to further improve on this, it is more important than ever for reliable, accessible, and efficient charging options to be available in the right locations to support this transformation.”

At Joju Charging, we couldn’t agree more! We’re working hard to achieve this and are looking forward to sharing more news with you in 2025 about the hubs we’re installing up and down the country.

As Joju’s CEO, Joe Michaels, commented:

“It’s encouraging to see the positive EV driver responses in the latest Zapmap survey, and not surprising to see the results reinforcing the importance of public EV Charging Infrastructure. Joju Charging is continuing to partner with councils and public bodies across the UK, to put more charging infrastructure in the ground as quickly and reliably as possible. 2025 looks very exciting as we install more hub sites with CPO Mer”.

Watch this space for more in the New Year.

 

Discover more

Follow us on Linkedin for all the latest

Read more about Joju Charging and how we can help

Check out our case studies

Loan charging second hand electric vehicle

Used EV sales rocket, and the latest on EV charging progress

There’s definitely a surge in positive news about Electric Vehicles right now. The rising demand for EVs has given a huge boost to the used car market in the second quarter of 2024. Plus, a new report shows significant progress in getting EV Chargers in the ground and online.

Let’s unpick these latest developments a little.

 

Used EV market reaches record highs

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is reporting that sales of used battery electric vehicles have risen by 52.6% year on year. With almost 46,800 transactions, this equates to a record quarterly market share of 2.4% – that’s up from the 1.7% share of last year.

EVs between 3-5 years old are selling the fastest, with a 138% sales increase year-on-year… and that’s not all. The predications are that by year end, electric car sales will have increased by 5% due to unprecedented demand.

 

What’s causing the increased EV uptake?

There are many reasons. EVs are cheaper to run, and the falling purchase cost of electric vehicles is a biggie! Technological advancements including improvements in battery power are making newer models more attractive, especially to early adopters of EVs. As they look to newer models, rapid drops in pricing of used electric vehicles attracts more people to the market. And, that 2030 deadline is looming, after all!

When it comes to pricing, the vehicle history check and valuation group HPI says the average price of a three-year-old used EV as 8.5% less than its fossil fuel counterpart. That makes it feel like a no-brainer to many.

According to HPI data, values of used EVs for cars at the same age and mileage point, have halved since September 2022, and you can discover more here.

 

Significant EV charging progress is underway

There’s good news if you’re looking for an EV Charge Point too! A report by net zero data consultancy Field Dynamics, Zapmap, and Ordnance Survey, highlights progress in installing EV charging infrastructure across Great Britain.

Average coverage across local authorities has increased from 17.2% in 2022 to 24.8% in 2024. The number of charger locations has also increased by 60%. In terms of geography, London is leading the way with 67% coverage of on-street households. That’s significantly higher than the national average of 20%. We’ve been installing on street charge points in the capital, and you can read more about it here.

Hammersmith & Fulham EV charger

Outside London, Brighton and Hove (83%), Coventry (76%), and Portsmouth (58%) are leading the charge.

Portsmouth bollard EV charger

 

Disparities in charge point coverage

The report shows that disparities do remain though, despite the progress, with 38 local authorities covering less than 10% of their on-street households. More needs to be done, of course, and we are primed and ready to help!

As our Head of Sales, Emma Blades, commented:

“It’s great to see such positive progress when it comes to the installation and operation of EV Charging Infrastructure. Installers, like ourselves, have been working hard to get more charge points in the ground, and online, alongside Charge Point Operators.

We should recognise though, that there are lots of reasons why it’s tricky for some local authorities to extend charge point coverage. It could be the challenge of rural locations, lack of allocated bays in densely-populated residential areas, the location of street furniture, and many other reasons why locations might not be suitable. Often it’s not for the want of trying, and logistical challenges make it difficult, but not impossible.

The government’s LEVI fund will help to make equity of charging more commonplace… and, when discussing the challenges and potential solutions with local authorities in our public sector knowledge sharing workshop, ‘EV Insights’, it’s clear that local authorities are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure. Solutions will be found, where possible, and we can be sure charge point numbers and locations will continue to grow for the benefit of all EV drivers”. 

Discover more

Get in touch to find out how we can help with On Street Charging

Find out about EV Charging in Hammersmith and Fulham 

Read more of our Case Studies

EV Charging on street red car

Record number of public EV charge points installed this year

The news is out… about 6,000 public charge points have been installed during the first three months of this year, with a quarter of them rapid chargers. That’s according to quarterly figures from our friends at Zapmap, published by the Department for Transport.

The numbers

By April 1st, 2024, there were just under 60,000 public chargers installed in the UK. That’s a 49% increase on this time last year, and since 2022 the number of public chargers of all speeds has doubled.

Our view

It’s good news for EV drivers all across the country. It’s also positive for people considering the switch to EV, with The Guardian reporting in their EV mythbusters series, that range anxiety is one of the main reasons stopping people switching. Their take is that in the UK (unlike the US), the problem is being addressed and the number of black spots is reducing rapidly. Joju Charging Account Manager, Rob Dickin, agrees…

“Joju is working extensively with our local authority partners to increase the number of chargers available for the public, bringing together public and private sector funding to make sure there are enough chargers available as people make the switch to EVs. The upcoming LEVI funding from the government means we’ll be working even more closely with local authorities to ensure there are chargers available for those without their own off-street parking, so they can access renewable, green energy for their cars.”

Joju has been continuing to install public EV Charging Infrastructure in the first three months of the year, and there’s a lot more to come as Head of Public Sector Sales, Emma Blades, comments:

“The coming months are looking really positive for the EV revolution! With rapid hub projects being finalised and LEVI charging projects due, chargepoint numbers are set to increase further and faster. These projects give a variety of charging speeds for different uses, whether that’s residents charging overnight, visitors charging at a particular destination for a few hours, or people wanting to get charged and on their way as soon as possible. As the availability and ease of charging increases, the EV switch will be more accessible for all and we’re excited to continue to help power people’s journeys”.  

Absolutely right! The Joju Charging team looks forward to bringing EV drivers many more public charge points in 2024 and beyond, in conjunction with councils across the UK and our CPO and funding partners.

And finally…

Check out Zapmap for the nearest EV charge point on your travels.

electric vehicle charging at a school

EV charging grant for schools, and other funding updates

There’s been a lot happening in the EV charging space recently, in terms of initiatives to encourage electric vehicle adoption and the installation of EV charging infrastructure. Here’s our round up of the key highlights and specifics to have on your radar, when it comes to EV charging grants and funding measures.

 

EV charging grant for schools

The Department for Transport has recently increased the amount education institutions (including schools, colleges, academy trusts, and nurseries) can receive to install electric vehicle chargepoints.

The schools grant is part of the Workplace Charging Scheme and it’s open to all state-funded schools and educational institutions. It covers up to 75% of the cost of the purchase and install of EV chargepoints, up to £2,500 per socket. That’s a significant rise from the previous £350.

Schools and educational settings can use the grant to install as many as 40 EV chargepoints across all sites. This is a great way to boost chargepoint facilities for staff and visitors. The Department for Transport has also advised that schools could use the chargepoints to generate revenue, by making them available to the public.

To be eligible to apply, any school or educational setting needs to have dedicated off-street parking facilities. You can make an application online here.

Our Joju Charging team can also talk you through the schools grant application process, if you’d like to get in touch.

Independent schools can apply for funding too, through the Workplace Charging Scheme and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets. 

 

 

LEVI update

We’ve been sharing news and supporting councils with information for applications for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. The government is delivering £381 million to local authorities across the country, for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure to support drivers across the UK. The first capital payments for charging projects have been approved for local authorities including Bedford, East Sussex, North Yorkshire and the London boroughs of Hackney and Hounslow.

Here at Joju Charging, we’re also helping to bring EV charging to more rural areas in Dorset as part of a LEVI funded pilot. If you’re a local authority looking to reach more of your communities with EV charging infrastructure, do subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about a licence agreement we’ve created that could speed things up. The agreement enables tier 1 authorities to roll out EV charging networks across their areas, in association with sub authorities and even with the private sector. This framework has been over a year in the making, and we now have it for more of our local authority clients to benefit from.

 

 

Supporting EV chargepoint procurement

Through LEVI capability funding, almost 100 EV officers have been recruited to support chargepoint procurement. They will also help local authorities build teams to deliver EV charging projects. An electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI) training course will be open to all local authorities from mid-March as well, after a successful trial.

The government is also launching a consultation to look at speeding up charge point installation across the county. Proposals would mean street works could be carried out using a permit (rather than a licence), which can be issued much faster.

 

Don’t forget ORCS!

Local authorities can also still access the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS). We’re always happy to talk through the application process with you.

 

 

A welcome drive to go electric

With the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealing that the UK achieved the million EV’s on the road milestone in early February, we welcome all measures to support local authorities and drivers to make the switch to electric. As EVIE’s Contractor of the Year, Joju Charging is always ready to support with the design and installation of reliable, robust EV Charging infrastructure.

Do you Remember the First Time?

We’ve got the lyrics from that particular Pulp song on a loop in our heads, because our Head of Delivery (EV Charging), Graeme Patton, has recently got his first EV. Over the next couple of months, we’re going to be finding out all about that experience and asking you to share your first EV experiences with us too – on our social channels, using the hashtag #firstEV.READ MORE

KIngston, Sure Charge, TfL, GULCS, Lamp post charger, City EV, FM Conway

Lighting up London with Lamp Post EV Charge Points

Joju Charging has won the contract under the TfL GULCS framework (Go Ultra Low City Scheme) with the Royal Borough of Kingston, to provide 100 street light charge points for local Kingston residents. The charge points will be installed on existing lamp posts during February and March and will help people make the switch to EV, as residents without access to off street parking will soon be able to park on the street near their homes, plug their electric vehicle into a charge point on a street light and charge away!

READ MORE