Big blow to electric vehicle drivers as charger numbers fall in six UK regions – is your region affected?

The number of electric vehicle chargers has fallen in six counties in England.

That’s according to new figures released by the Department of Transport, which suggest some regions are being left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.

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The new research shows that there are now fewer public charging points in Gloucestershire, Devon, Kent, Norfolk, West Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear than at the start of the summer, with a decline also seen in Northern Ireland.

Between July 1 and October 1, the number of street chargers in Tyne and Wear reportedly fell from 725 to 636 – a fall of 12 per cent.

And in Kent they fell from 837 to 823, while in Devon there was a fall from 539 to 528 and in Gloucestershire from 278 to 273.

There were smaller waterfalls in West Yorkshire, Norfolk and Northern Ireland.

According to a report in the Daily MailThis is the first decline in most of these areas since 2019 and is likely due to companies shutting down financially unviable chargers.

However, DtF understands that these numbers likely reflect the installation of new equipment, which owners and operators may take out of service temporarily or permanently.

A DfT spokesman told The Sun: “This analysis ignores the bigger picture – all six counties mentioned, as well as Northern Ireland, recorded solid increases in the number of their charging points compared to last year.”

“We have put more than £2 billion into supporting the transition to electric vehicles and the number of public charging points across the country has increased by 42 per cent since October last year.”

This comes after a warning was issued to British drivers about new driving laws that could be announced this month.

Meanwhile, industry experts have urged older drivers to carry a specific card behind the wheel that could provide priority roadside assistance for people with hidden disabilities

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