Matt Davies
Director, Octopus Electroverse
Electric vehicle (EV) technology is advancing rapidly, with improved battery life and faster charging rates. Technology is transforming the EV ownership experience too – particularly for public charging.
Over the past few years the UK public charging rollout has rapidly accelerated, giving drivers access to a wide variety of charging options – what does this look like in practice?
Keeping pace with EV charging demand
A few years ago, finding suitable public charging points in the UK could be a quest. Drivers struggled to find the right infrastructure in the right place, and upon arrival were faced with barriers to accessing and paying for charging. However, thanks to the incredible pace of charger installations and unified approaches to technology, that experience is rapidly being consigned to history.
As of January 2025, the UK had over 92,000 public EV charge points available to drivers. With around 1.4 million electric vehicles on UK roads, that’s now one public charge point for every 15 vehicles. And it’s increasing at pace: the number of public chargers available grew 36% in the second half of 2024 alone, with the rapid and ultra-rapid charging speeds a particular focus.
The UK’s public EV charging landscape
has evolved dramatically: charging is
now easier, faster and more accessible.
Easy charging through digital innovation
With over 92,000 individual charge points, the UK’s public EV charging landscape is diverse. Charging isn’t restricted to larger cities or urbanised areas, and unlike petrol stations you won’t just find them roadside. EV chargers can be found on lampposts, at supermarkets and farm shops, car parks and amusement parks and at service stations; the list goes on. The breadth of charging locations aims to cater to a variety of driver needs and integrate into normal everyday life.
How do you access these 92,000+ charge points? That’s where leaps in technology come into play. Only five years ago, EV drivers using the public network were the unwitting collectors of an endless number of mobile apps. With over 70 charge point operators in the UK, EV drivers needed several apps, accounts or subscriptions to find, use and pay at a charging station – Octopus Electroverse was created as a solution to this challenge.
Electroverse makes charging on-the-go simple for electric car drivers. Connected to thousands of charging networks, it enables a seamless charging experience and importantly, removes the need for multiple apps and cards to find a charger and power up your car.
Universal EV charging access
In 2025, EV drivers can rely on universal charging apps: one account, one map, and access to over a thousand charging networks across the UK and Europe. Octopus Electroverse unlocks access to over 920,000 compatible charge points for drivers and is Europe’s largest EV charging network.
Matt Davies, Director of Octopus Electroverse, explains: “We created Electroverse with a clear mission: to make charging electric vehicles on-the-go as easy as possible. One app and one card — that’s all drivers need to access over 920,000 chargers.
“Drivers love the slick experience and features we’ve rolled out over the years, but it’s just the beginning for smart EV charging. With unique developments in dynamic discounts (e.g. Plunge Pricing) to save drivers money and greater accessibility (e.g. Plug & Charge), we’re creating a seamless and user-friendly platform to improve the public charging experiences of the rapidly-growing EV community.”
Enabling a greener, electrified future
The UK’s public EV charging landscape has evolved rapidly, making charging easier, faster and more accessible. With expanding infrastructure and seamless app integration, EV ownership is more convenient than ever — paving the way for a greener, electrified future of transport.
