London is one of the most significant EV markets in Europe, driven by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), congestion charge exemptions, and one of the world's most aggressive urban clean air policies. Here's a data-driven look at where London actually stands in 2026.
How Many Electric Vehicles Are on UK Roads?
As of July 2025, there were approximately 1.62 million fully electric cars on UK roads, with London accounting for a disproportionately large share. A third (33%) of survey respondents in London reported owning an electric car — four percentage points more than any other UK region, reflecting the combined effect of ULEZ, higher incomes, and environmental policy awareness.
The UK registered 473,348 new BEVs in 2025 — a 23.4% market share of all new car registrations, according to SMMT. This makes the UK one of Europe's leading EV markets behind Norway.
How Many Charging Stations Does the UK Have?
The UK public charging network has grown dramatically. Key figures as of early 2026:
- 118,321 total EV chargers across 45,561 locations (Zapmap, Feb 2026)
- 14,451 rapid chargers (50–149 kW) as of March 2026
- 12,921 ultra-rapid chargers (150 kW+) — up 40% year-on-year
- Greater London holds ~30% of all UK public EV charging devices
| Charger Type | UK Total (2026) | % of Network | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (3–7.9 kW) | ~64,000 | 55% | Overnight |
| Standard Plus (8–49 kW) | ~17,000 | 14% | 2–6 hours |
| Rapid (50–149 kW) | 14,451 | 12% | 30–60 min |
| Ultra-Rapid (150 kW+) | 12,921 | 11% | 15–30 min |
London's Charging Infrastructure Specifics
London's charging network is dense but skewed toward slower on-street Level 2 chargers — the government's own statistics note that London has many more chargers per capita than the rest of the UK, yet the second-lowest per-capita ratio of rapid-or-above chargers. This reflects the city's approach: prioritizing accessible slow charging for residents without driveways over fast charging for motorists passing through.
The dominant operator is Shell Recharge (formerly Ubitricity), which had 10,597 charging devices across the UK as of July 2025 — primarily on-street lamp post chargers in London. These slow chargers (5–7 kW) are targeted at residents who park on the street overnight.
What Does Charging Cost in London?
Home charging in the UK averaged around 24–27p/kWh in 2025. Public rapid charging costs significantly more — as of July 2025, the average UK rate was 76p/kWh for rapid chargers (50 kW+) and 52p/kWh for slower public devices. At 76p/kWh, filling a 77 kWh battery costs roughly £58 — comparable to petrol prices for similar vehicles.
ULEZ impact: London's Ultra Low Emission Zone now covers all of Greater London (from August 2023). Non-compliant petrol cars pay £12.50/day, diesel cars £12.50/day. For a daily commuter, this adds up to £3,250/year — a powerful financial incentive to switch to an EV exempt from the charge.
The Biggest Rapid Charging Networks in the UK
As of March 2026, the top three rapid/ultra-rapid networks are MFG EV Power (2,838 points), Osprey (2,537), and BP Pulse (2,502). Tesla's Supercharger network opened to all CCS-compatible EVs in the UK from 2023, dramatically expanding access to high-speed charging for non-Tesla vehicles.