Drivers across Hitchin and the wider East of England now have more places than ever to charge their electric vehicles, after new figures revealed a 25% increase in public chargepoints across the region over the past year.

According to the Department for Transport, 1,278 new public chargers have been added since October 2024 — taking the regional total to 6,400. That growth outpaces the national average of 23%, providing reassurance for drivers making the switch to electric that they can "charge up and go" wherever their journeys take them.

The expansion is part of a wider government push to accelerate the UK's transition to cleaner transport, backed by £381 million in funding to deliver 100,000 more chargepoints nationwide. The investment is expected to boost British industry, support new jobs and help deliver what ministers are calling a "Plan for Change".

Minister for Decarbonisation Keir Mather said: "There's never been a better time to go electric – chargepoints are up 23% in a year, and we're helping drivers save with discounts of up to £3,750 on new electric cars. We're also cutting red tape so renters and those without driveways can access affordable home charging, making it easier and cheaper for everyone to make the switch."

Across the UK, a new chargepoint is being added every 33 minutes, with more than 17,000 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers now available that can top up most cars to 80% in as little as 20 to 40 minutes.

The surge in availability follows the introduction of the £650 million Electric Car Grant, already helping more than 25,000 motorists switch to electric with savings on dozens of models.

Plans are also being developed to make home charging more accessible, including proposals to cut £250 off planning fees for renters and residents without driveways, and a £25 million scheme to help councils install cross-pavement channels for on-street charging.

Vicky Read, Chief Executive of ChargeUK, welcomed the news: "The EV charging industry is pulling out all the stops to help drivers go electric, investing billions into high-quality, reliable charging. We need the right mix of affordable and easy-to-access options at home, at work, and on the road to make sure everyone can make the switch."

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With charging points continuing to appear in car parks, service stations and community areas across North Hertfordshire, the latest figures show that the region — including towns like Hitchin, Letchworth and Stevenage — is rapidly gearing up for a low-carbon future on the roads.