There are now 1,407 electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints outside schools and colleges across the UK, thanks to £3 million from the government’s Workplace Charing Scheme (WCS). The scheme has funded over 59,000 workplace charging points since 2016, and supported 6,500 new chargepoints in 2024.

The government has confirmed that the Workplace Charging Scheme, as well as the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant, have also been extended for another year. This ensures even more chargepoints can be distributed among flats, rental properties, schools, offices, and workplaces so that drivers can charge their vehicles in more and more places.

The UK chargepoint network continues to grow, now comprising 74,000 public chargers with a record of nearly 20,000 added in the last year alone. This figure is only set to grow following £200 million earmarked in the Autumn Budget to continue the chargepoint rollout as well as £6 billion of private investment.

Lilian Greenwood, future of roads minister, said: “Schools are the beating heart of our towns and communities and rolling out chargers here shows we are building a practice and reliable charging network designed around people’s daily lives.

“Reaching 1,000 sockets at schools is a particularly significant milestone and builds on a record January for electric car sales, as consumer confidence in the electric transition grows every day. This is helping support jobs, making the UK a clean energy superpower and deliver our Plan for Change.”

The UK is the largest EV market in Europe, with over 382,000 EVs sold in 2024, and so there has never been a better time to make the switch to an electric vehicle. One in three used electric cars are under £20,000, and drivers are able to save up to £750 a year compared to petrol if they mostly charge at home.