Public Charge Point Utilisation: Tracking EV Charging Habits Across the UK
As the UK’s EV transition accelerates, understanding how public charge points are actually used is becoming just as important as how many exist. This measure, known as charge point utilisation, provides critical insights for operators, landowners, investors, and grid service providers. It helps shape infrastructure rollout, informs pricing and promotional strategies, and guides the development of related services.
What do we mean by utilisation?
Charge point utilisation refers to how often and how long a charge point is in use. It can be measured in two ways:
- Time-based utilisation - the number of hours a charger is plugged into per day.
- Energy-based utilisation - the amount of electricity delivered in each charging session.
Several factors affect utilisation rates, including location, demand, charging speed, and even how long a charge point has been in place.
Latest UK trends
Data from the Zapmap Insights team shows that in the second quarter of 2025, there were over 9.1 million successful charging sessions across the UK’s public network. Around 69% of these sessions took place at rapid and ultra-rapid charge points (≥50kW), with the remaining 31% on slower chargers (<50kW).
On average, UK charge points were in use for around three hours per day - or 11% of a 24-hour period. The type of charger makes a big difference:
- Slower chargers (<50kW) are used less frequently (typically less than once per day) but for longer sessions, averaging 3 hours 35 minutes.
- Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50kW+) are used more often (around four times per day) but for much shorter sessions, averaging 37 minutes.
When are charge points busiest?
Usage patterns reflect driver behaviour. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, often used for enroute top-ups, peak between 12pm and 2pm. Slower destination and on-street chargers are busiest in the late morning (10am–12pm) as drivers arrive at workplaces or public destinations, and again between 4pm and 6pm, coinciding with the evening return home.
Regional utilisation
Unsurprisingly, the regions with the most chargers see the most use. Greater London accounts for 19% of all charging sessions, followed by the South East (18%) and the East of England (10%). This aligns closely with the distribution of charge points in these areas.
Why does this matter?
For the EV sector, utilisation data provides more than just operational insights. It can highlight underused chargers, identify where extra capacity is needed, and help ensure investment in charging infrastructure keeps pace with driver demand. For businesses hosting chargers - whether supermarkets, fleet depots, or local authorities - understanding utilisation trends also supports commercial decision-making and customer service planning.