Britain’s EV Chargers Get a Brain Boost

GRIDSERVE and Zapmap lead efforts to make UK charging smarter and more transparent

12 Nov 2025

Britain’s electric vehicle charging network is entering a new phase of digital development, as operators prioritise data integration and transparency to enhance reliability and efficiency across the country.

The focus has moved from expanding physical infrastructure to building an intelligent, data-led ecosystem capable of managing growing demand for electric vehicles.

GRIDSERVE and Zapmap are among the companies driving this shift. GRIDSERVE’s Electric Highway network has been integrated with Zapmap’s live data platform since September 2021, improving drivers’ access to accurate, real-time charging information. The partnership has strengthened visibility and uptime across the UK’s public charging network through enhanced data-sharing tools.

According to Zapmap, the number of public charging devices in the UK reached 70,434 by September 2024, marking a 41 per cent increase from a year earlier. By the end of 2024, that figure had risen to about 73,700, reflecting continued investment and steady growth in the sector.

Collaboration between energy providers, technology developers and infrastructure operators is deepening as companies explore how real-time data can improve network efficiency and user experience. While many are trialling predictive maintenance and live monitoring, analysts caution that full automation and advanced grid balancing remain medium-term goals rather than near-term realities.

Government policy is supporting this evolution through open data initiatives designed to promote the publication of charger availability and performance information. Although real-time data sharing is not yet mandated, public-private cooperation is helping to establish consistent digital standards across the industry.

Cybersecurity, interoperability and upgrade costs remain key challenges, particularly for smaller operators. Yet momentum continues to build behind the shift to smarter infrastructure.

As one industry analyst observed, “The real race is shifting from building more chargers to making them smarter.” The UK’s next stage of the electric vehicle transition is being shaped as much by data as by power.