Electric Vehicle Charging

 

 

 

Joint Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Study

Our joint Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Study, developed in partnership with Western Gateway STB, provides the evidence base to guide future EV charging policy across the region.

The study gives local authorities the data they need to plan effectively — identifying where chargers should be located, how many will be required, and what types of chargers will best meet demand. It considers the different needs of rural and urban areas, seasonal variations, and potential opportunities for private sector investment.

Using the WSP EV:Ready model, the study projects future EV growth out to 2050. With just over 99,000 EVs currently on the road, uptake is expected to rise dramatically to between 2.3 and 3.2 million by 2035.

To keep pace with this growth, the public charging network will need significant expansion. As of January 2023, 2,408 charge points were already in operation, but projections show demand rising to:

  • 11,400 – 13,400 by 2025

  • 24,000 – 33,600 by 2030

  • 54,800 – 74,400 by 2035

Meeting this demand will require a combined effort from both the public and private sectors. By 2030, the public sector alone is expected to deliver 10,600 – 20,000 charge points across the South West.

Next steps

  • Development of a spatial planning tool for uptake, an online dashboard which will allow councils to cross-examine the data in detail
  • Set up a South West EV forum