Zapmap, the UK’s main cost level mapping service, has launched its annual satisfaction rankings for high-powered, ‘en-route’ public charging networks within the UK with Fastned coming in first place.
Now in its sixth yr, the league desk derives from Zapmap’s annual EV charging survey, carried out throughout October 2023. The survey, which is probably the most established and complete survey of EV drivers within the UK, noticed report responses from greater than 4,000 electrical automotive drivers.
This yr, for the primary time, Zapmap has produced two units of community rankings, so as to higher account for the distinction in scale and operation between these predominantly targeted on fast or en-route charging, and people that are primarily supporting the rollout of on-street or vacation spot chargers. The rankings for on-street and vacation spot charging suppliers will probably be introduced subsequent week.
For this yr’s 2023-24 rankings, Zapmap is once more awarding a ‘Finest EV Charging Community’ accreditation to the highest scorer, with the others within the high 5 additionally receiving an ‘EV Driver Really useful’ title. Nonetheless, for the primary time, Zapmap can also be introducing a brand new ‘Up and Coming Community’ accreditation.
As a part of the survey, respondents rated their general satisfaction for the networks they use often, which is then used to rank every community out of a most of 5 stars. In addition they rated their degree of satisfaction with the networks in 5 key areas: reliability, ease of use, buyer assist, worth for cash, and cost choices.
In first place this yr is the distinctive Fastned community, which gives high-power charging hubs with a number of units at every location. Fastned scored notably extremely for the reliability and ease of use of its charging community, and secures this yr’s ‘Finest EV Charging Community’ badge.
In second and third place respectively this yr are MFG EV Energy and Osprey Charging, two networks additionally specializing in rolling out high-speed charging hubs at a nationwide degree. The 2 networks earn the ‘EV Driver Really useful’ title for the 2023-24 rankings, alongside Ionity and InstaVolt, which take fourth and fifth place respectively.
The league desk illustrates Zapmap customers’ hottest ‘en-route’ public charging networks within the UK. These operators predominantly provide high-powered charging units, catering to drivers seeking to cost up as rapidly as doable throughout longer journeys.
It’s value highlighting that ChargePlace Scotland – which holds seventh place general – takes first place for buyer assist and likewise worth for cash, because of a few of its intensive community of cost factors nonetheless being free to make use of.
On the decrease finish of the desk, bp pulse and GeniePoint have swapped locations, with the previous taking tenth place and the latter coming in at eleven. The 2 networks, which each function a lot of cost factors throughout the nation, got here decrease down when it comes to reliability and ease of use – areas each operators are working laborious to enhance upon.
This yr Zapmap has additionally added a brand new ‘Up and Coming Community’ class, for these networks with not fairly the requisite variety of responses from EV drivers within the survey, however whose efficiency would have put them close to the highest of the desk.
The en-route ‘Up and Coming Community’ this yr is evyve, a brand new community that already has over 100 charging areas and 220 units throughout the UK, most of them higher-powered units.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, stated: “This yr has seen continued development within the variety of new electrical automobiles registered, and in parallel vital development within the charging infrastructure that many drivers depend on.
“The outcomes of our annual EV survey spotlight that for a lot of EV drivers availability and reliability of chargers stay a priority. That’s precisely why these rankings and our ‘Finest EV Charging Community’ accreditations are necessary. They supply suggestions immediately from EV drivers and act as a strong indication of which networks are extra reliable.
“Splitting the rankings into two classes displays the rising nature of the market, with many extra gamers and extra specialisation, so it is smart to check comparable networks.
“Going ahead we hope that every one the cost level networks will proceed to concentrate on offering each extra chargers and a dependable, easy-to-use charging expertise for EV drivers.”
The highest 5 en-route charging networks 2023/24
1st – Fastned – Star Ranking 4.5With solely 90 fast and ultra-rapid charging units throughout the nation, Fastned has a smaller UK presence than a number of the different gamers on the desk, however that is altering. The European community is constant to determine a powerful foothold within the UK and has expanded its community by 50% up to now this yr, with Fastned’s distinctive yellow canopies now at areas stretching from Sandwich to Dundee.
What’s extra, Fastned’s providing definitely appears to be resonating effectively with electrical automotive drivers throughout the nation, with its iconic hub design, extremely dependable charging and easy cost profitable reward up and down the nation. Hold an eye fixed out for a lot of extra of the community’s eye-catching yellow canopies popping up over the subsequent few years.
As with final yr’s rankings, reliability and ease of use have been key to Fastned’s place this time round, with the community coming first in each classes, serving to it to win this yr’s ‘Finest EV Charging Community’ badge.
Suggestions highlighted Fastned chargers as “Wonderful” and targeted on the community’s “dependable and respectable charging” expertise. Certainly, respondents to the survey have been overwhelmingly constructive about charging on Fastned units, however some suggestions illustrated that the community remains to be in its early levels right here within the UK, highlighting that it’s “New” and that there are “no services to chill out.”
Community stats:
60+ ultra-rapid units and 30 fast units at nearly 20 areas throughout the UKThe community has grown by 50% within the UK up to now this yearAccepts contactless and digital funds by way of cross-network resolution Zap-Pay
2nd – MFG EV Energy – Star Ranking 4.0MFG EV Energy, the ultra-rapid community from Motor Gas Group, has round 560 charging units up and down the nation, and is aiming to put in some 3,000 ultra-rapid units by 2031.
Coming in joint-first final yr, MFG EV Energy has moved to second place this time round. Its websites are sometimes at conventional petrol station areas, and are put in in charging hubs with not less than 4 charging units. MFG has greater than doubled the variety of chargers in its community this yr, predominantly putting in dependable, high-powered hubs at forecourts throughout the nation.
As with Fastned, reliability and ease of use have been integral to MFG EV Energy’s place this yr. The community got here in joint-second for reliability and second for ease of use, serving to it to win an ‘EV Driver Really useful’ accreditation.
Suggestions highlighted the tempo of MFG’s cost level rollout in 2023, with “a great deal of chargers popping up,” in addition to the reliability of units and “Wonderful quantity of chargers at every location.” One driver merely stated, “All the time labored for me!” MFG additionally got here in joint-second for cost choices, which embrace Zap-Pay, contactless and the MFG EV Energy app. Some drivers famous excessive prices as a detractor, however emphasised the “Wonderful services and the secure/safe surroundings at 24/7 petrol stations.”
Community stats:
560 ultra-rapid charging units throughout 120+ areas, predominantly at gasoline forecourtsAiming to put in 3,000 ultra-rapid chargers by 2031MFG EV Energy is a dwell Zap-Pay accomplice
third – Osprey Charging – Star Ranking 4.0This yr, Osprey strikes up a spot to 3rd. With round 740 fast and ultra-rapid units throughout the UK, Osprey is dedicated to creating secure, accessible charging factors. In 2022, the community launched a newly designed cost level to make this dedication a actuality, and has been rolling these out with gusto up and down the nation.
Certainly, since final yr, Osprey has not solely doubled the variety of chargers on its community, however has additionally began to roll out some spectacular charging hubs, reminiscent of its ultra-rapid hub at Salmons Leap in Devon. The community has additionally proven an actual understanding of the wants of electrical automotive drivers, with a concentrate on each accessibility and customer support.
Osprey is available in joint-second when it comes to reliability this yr and in third for ease of use, serving to the community to win an ‘EV Driver Really useful’ accreditation. Suggestions highlighted the reliability of Osprey’s “Nice chargers” and the way “Straightforward to make use of” they’re. The standard service Osprey gives additionally got here by means of clearly: “A mannequin for different networks” with “persistently dependable and nice buyer expertise,” stated one driver. “100% satisfaction – might do extra of them domestically,” stated one other.
Community stats:
Round 130 ultra-rapid charging units, greater than 610 fast units and round 10 lower-powered units throughout greater than 300 locationsNational community, opened the South West’s largest ultra-rapid hub earlier this yr in DevonZap-Pay launch accomplice, providing easy cross-network charging
4th – Ionity – Star Ranking 3.5With 130 ultra-rapid charging units throughout 22 areas, Ionity is presently one of many smaller en-route networks working within the UK. Nonetheless, the community is putting in ultra-rapid charging hubs near motorways and main A roads up and down the nation, and operates nearly 3,000 charging factors alongside European motorways in 24 international locations.
This yr Ionity strikes up a spot to fourth. The community got here in joint-third place for each reliability and joint-fourth for ease of use, receiving a better rating for buyer assist and worth for cash than InstaVolt in fifth.
Survey respondents described Ionity units as “Wonderful chargers” which can be “Quick and conveniently positioned,” though there are “some not working.” Others highlighted excessive costs at Ionity areas in addition to the restricted extent of the UK community at current: “Soooo quick however costly,” stated one driver, whereas one other thought there are “not sufficient round,” with some websites at “questionable areas.”
Community stats:
130 ultra-rapid charging units throughout 22 locationsExpanding its UK charging community, with greater than 10 areas presently in constructionRecently partnered with Village Resorts to open tons of of UK ultra-rapid units
fifth – InstaVolt – Star Ranking 3.5With nearly 1,300 fast and ultra-rapid charging units throughout the nation, InstaVolt has the biggest fast community within the UK. The operator, which gives dependable fast and ultra-rapid chargers with easy contactless cost from Scotland to Cornwall, drops from third to fifth place this yr and wins an ‘EV Driver Really useful’ accreditation.
This time round, InstaVolt got here in joint-third place for each reliability and joint-fourth for ease of use, scoring just under Ionity when it comes to buyer assist and worth for cash.
Drivers described InstaVolt units as “Costly however all the time works” and “Nice. Trendy. Dependable.” Others highlighted factors reminiscent of “Cables [being] too brief, parking bays too small,” a “Poor buyer helpline” and that areas “Might do with a roof.”
Nonetheless, the breadth, reliability and continued growth of InstaVolt’s community have been clear to see, with respondents noting that the community is “Plentiful and customarily dependable” with “Extra accessible in hometown and rural areas” than different networks. Some drivers “search them out if doable.”
Community stats:
Virtually 1,300 fast and ultra-rapid charging units throughout 560 locationsLargest en-route charging community within the UKFind InstaVolt units at Costa Espresso, KFC, Starbucks and McDonalds shops in addition to retail parks, gyms and repair stations
Nov 10, 2023