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The number of public EV chargers available in the UK increased by 70% during the past year, according to research company Cornwall Insight and law firm Shoosmiths.
The data has been used in compiling the organisations' Electric Vehicle Country Attractiveness (EVCA) Index, which assigns ratings to 13 European countries based on their attractiveness for EV deployment, based on factors including charging infrastructure, government incentives, market conditions, and market share of EVs.
According to the data, the UK now has one public charger for every 11.2 EVs on the road.
Cornwall Insight and Shoosmiths said the increase demonstrated the impact of ongoing government efforts to expand the charging network, with the number of chargers set to increase further during 2023. They said the government's commitment to investing in rapid and ultra-fast charging networks demonstrated a determination to overcome existing barriers and create an environment conducive to EV adoption.
However, the UK is still only ranked sixth on the EVCA Index, with sales of EVs having declined over the past quarter.
Norway is rated the best performing country, ahead of the Netherlands and France, while Portugal is ranked the worst.
Cornwall Insight research analyst Jamie Maule said that the significant increase seen in public EV charging provision in the UK signified a positive stride towards an electrified transportation future.
He said: "With each new charging point, we create an atmosphere that encourages the adoption of EVs and supports the nation's collective vision of greener roads and a cleaner environment.
"Yet, as we celebrate this milestone, let us not overlook the electrifying revolution unfolding across Europe. The UK's position in the EVCA Index calls for an even greater push.
"Our neighbouring nations are leading the charge, with Norway and the Netherlands becoming pioneers of progress, armed with extensive charging networks and forward-thinking policies to raise the sale of EVs.
"As these countries surge ahead, their actions inspire a sense of urgency across the continent, which we hope can turn Europe into a haven for electric mobility and leave a lasting mark on the future of transportation worldwide."
Calum Stacey, legal director in Shoosmiths' energy and infrastructure team, said: "The headline 70% rise in public chargepoints in the UK shows the substantial level of activity in the charging infrastructure market over the last year and perhaps a new phase of efficient project implementation. Beyond the headline rate, there are indicators that show the potential for significant further growth in charging infrastructure market in the UK.
"For example, one of the main movers in the new EVCA Index is the Netherlands, driven by the achievement of one publicly accessible charge point for every ~2.7 BEVs; the UK is significantly behind on this metric (with one publicly accessible charge point for every ~11.2 BEVs) [which] illustrates the demand for further investment in the public charging market."
The full rankings are as follows: Norway (score 7.0), the Netherlands (6.6), France (6.53), Germany (6.5), Spain (6.49), the UK (6.2), Belgium (6.1), Denmark (5.8), Ireland (5.7), Austria (5.6), Italy (4.5), Poland (4.4), Portugal (4.2).
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