Electric vehicle charging devices outnumber petrol stations

Data from the Department for Transport shows there were 17,947 devices in the UK as of 1 April, 6,300 more than a year earlier. This compares to around 8,000 petrol stations.

The regions with the fewest devices per population include the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the Midlands, East Anglia, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “One of the myths we urgently need to clear up is a perceived lack in charging points. With a 61% year-on-year increase and more public charge points being installed every week, it should give confidence to drivers that they will be able to get home in an electric car.”

He added: “Encouraging drivers to make the switch to electric cars will also encourage both councils and businesses to install charging infrastructure. We believe that further incentives are required to ease the transition to lower emission vehicles such as cutting VAT on the sale of certain vehicles or targeted scrappage schemes.”

The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that Boris Johnson is considering launching plans to give drivers up to £6,000 to exchange their petrol or diesel car for an electric model.