Research by Carwow analysed public government data to reveal the UK areas which are under the most pressure to install public EV chargers, those with the biggest growth gaps, and the priority areas for EV charging.
Stockport faces the most pressure to meet the demand for electric chargers, with the highest number of EVs for each public charger. The northern city also demonstrates the strongest case for increased investment in EV charging, as EV ownership is growing notably faster than the rollout of charging stations.
Electric vehicle adoption in the UK has seen a steady increase in 2025, with Carwow reporting a growth in market share from 40.65 percent in January to a peak of 50.69 percent in October. Purchase grants have been the dominant driver of consumer interest, with 38 percent of respondents citing them as the main purchase driver.
The second half of the year saw relatively consistent adoption rates, remaining close to or above 50 percent from August to November, following the announcement of the EV adoption scheme in July. However, the increased demand for electric vehicles across the UK means the pace at which local authorities must improve their infrastructure for EV ownership is also speeding up.
In Stockport, where charger pressure is greatest, there are only two chargers per 1,000 EV’s, despite nearly £2 million investment into charger installation in council-owned car parks. Similarly, in Windsor and Maidenhead, local authorities will need to rapidly increase the number of chargers across the area to support the growing demand.
Leeds is another major UK city that falls behind on its investment and demonstrates a strong case for more rapid growth in charger installation with only 13 chargers per 1,000 EVs, alongside the likes of Peterborough, Milton Keynes, and even Manchester.
“The grant clearly sparked interest when it launched, but the reality is that many drivers still don’t know it’s there” said Iain Reid, Global Content Director from Carwow. “If three in five car buyers are unaware of the support available, it’s no surprise that momentum in interest in the grant has been difficult to maintain. Our data shows that drivers respond quickly when incentives are introduced but keeping that interest going is the bigger challenge. For the UK to stay on course for its EV targets, support needs to be simple, visible and easy for people to understand. Infrastructure investment is vital, but so is clear communication, especially in parts of the country where uptake is stalling.”
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