Electric Vehicle Charge Points Surge in the North East, Outpacing the Rest of the UK
The North East is charging ahead, literally. Latest government figures reveal that the region has seen the fastest growth in electric vehicle charge points across the UK.
Public charging infrastructure in the North East has soared to 2,703 devices, up by 784 in just a year. That marks the biggest percentage increase nationwide, according to new statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT).
This push aligns with the UK Government’s wider efforts to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. As part of this plan, the rise in charging infrastructure aims to ease fears over range and accessibility.
Ministers insist this expansion is essential. “Drivers’ peace of mind that they will be able to charge conveniently wherever their journey takes them,” they emphasised.
And it’s not just numbers—it’s location. Northumberland leads the region with 190.2 charging points per 100,000 residents, followed by Sunderland at 127.3. North Tyneside, however, lags behind at 40.9.
The region’s overall rate has more than tripled since 2019. Back then, there were only 27.8 charging devices per 100,000 people.
As of now? It stands at 100.7, higher than the North West (75.4) and Yorkshire and the Humber (74.7). Yet it still trails the UK average of 121.3, and London remains in the fast lane at 275.4.
Rapid chargers, those pumping out 50KW or more, are also on the rise. The North East boasts 23.7 per 100,000 people, not far off the UK average of 24.7. Scotland still takes the top spot at 37.5.
There’s more on the way. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has rolled out a multi-million pound plan to bring hundreds more EV charge points to local streets over the next three years.
Backed by a £15.8m grant from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund, the region is on track to install more than 1,000 public chargers by 2030.
Nationally, charge point figures have shattered records, topping 82,000 for the first time, an increase of 17,000 in just 12 months. And the Government’s commitment doesn’t end there.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood stated: “Just last week we announced record discounts to help make EV ownership a reality for thousands more people, alongside making it easier to charge at home so more drivers can run their EV for as little as 2p a mile.
“Today’s chargepoint figures show that, alongside lowering upfront costs, we’re also making fantastic progress towards expanding our charging network across the North East, helping put range anxiety firmly in the rear-view mirror.”
The push comes as EV grant schemes make a comeback. Scrapped in 2022, the incentive is being reintroduced for new electric cars priced below £37,000, offering savings up to £3,750.
Add to that: a drive to make electricity cheaper. Flexible tariffs, smart tech, and off-peak discounts are being lined up to cut charging costs even further.
Still, the road ahead is long. A recent Transport for the North report says surface transport in the North accounts for 23% of the UK’s road emissions. Cutting this figure significantly will require a large-scale shift to electric motoring.
As the report put it: “It is critical that the transition to electric vehicles takes place and that investment in charging infrastructure provision is realised in all areas of our region, across varying local transport realities, to ensure consumer confidence and the necessary speed of change.”
With policy, funding, and public interest aligning, the North East might just become the UK’s leading EV hotspot. For now, it’s safe to say: the region has found its spark.
