The UK is one of Europe’s most optimistic markets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, but charging infrastructure is failing to keep pace with consumer demand, according to the 2025 HERE–SBD EV Index.

The study, released by mapping specialist HERE Technologies and automotive research firm SBD Automotive, ranked 30 European countries and all 50 US states (plus Washington, DC) across four measures: charger density, average charger power, EV fleet share, and charger-to-EV ratio.

Despite strong consumer intent, the UK placed just 21st overall in Europe. While it ranked 9th in charger density, the country lagged significantly in charging speed, coming 26th with an average charger power of 36kW. Norway leads Europe at 84kW.

“Current efforts are not sufficient to meet most regional electrification ambitions,” said Robert Fisher, Electrification and Sustainability Principal at SBD Automotive. He added that the Index highlights both “progress and persistent barriers to adoption.”

Consumer enthusiasm remains high

The survey shows UK consumers are more open to EVs than any other European market:

• 80% would pick an EV over petrol or diesel if cost and specifications were equal.
• 56% believe EVs will account for more than half of all new sales by 2030.
• 62% are prepared to wait up to 30 minutes for a charge — far higher than drivers in Germany (44%) or Italy (32%).

But infrastructure concerns remain. Over a third (35%) of UK respondents still see limited charger availability as a barrier, while EV penetration of the fleet stands at just 3.5%, well below Norway’s 22.4%.

Chris Handley, VP of Product Management at HERE Technologies, said the findings underline where “infrastructure is falling short of consumer expectations,” adding that the company is working with the industry “to ensure EV drivers can accurately find public charging stations and overcome the access barriers identified in our survey.”

Balance scores and dealer knowledge

A new “balance score” in the Index highlights how evenly markets are developing. Austria, France and Slovenia emerged as the most balanced in Europe, while the UK showed uneven progress due to its relatively weak charging speeds.

The Index also reveals gaps in consumer education. Fewer than half (46%) of UK respondents said they received comprehensive EV information from dealers, echoing similar findings in Germany.

Despite this, satisfaction among current UK EV drivers is high, with 85% rating charging reliability positively and 90% satisfied with payment ease.

Policy pressure mounting

The findings arrive as the UK accelerates its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which bans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. In July, the government introduced a £650 million subsidy scheme to stimulate EV uptake.

The Index suggests, however, that investment in charging infrastructure must move faster if the UK is to meet its targets.

Methodology

The 2025 HERE–SBD EV Index is based on EV charging location data from the HERE EV Charge Points API, which tracks public chargers but excludes residential units. The dataset includes charge point details such as operating hours, payment methods, connector types, and real-time availability.

Comparisons were made across the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and all US states plus Washington, DC. Official sources included the US Census Bureau, Eurostat, EAFO, ONS and FHWA. Only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were considered.

In addition, SBD Automotive conducted a survey of more than 2,000 drivers in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK during July and August 2025.