The NI data, sourced
Electric vehicles in Northern Ireland: statistics
Northern Ireland has the thinnest public charging network of any UK nation, even as the number of electric vehicles on its roads keeps climbing. Here are the latest official figures, each one attributed to a named government source with the date it was published. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this page.
Last reviewed 11 July 2026.
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As of 1 April 2026, Northern Ireland had just 59.4 public electric-vehicle charging devices per 100,000 people, the lowest of any UK nation and around a third of the UK average of 171.9 (Department for Transport). For rapid chargers of 50kW and above the gap is just as stark: 18.4 per 100,000 in NI against a UK average of 39.5. Yet EV take-up is rising, with roughly 30,000 electric vehicles now on Northern Ireland's roads, more than double the total of two years earlier. Analysis by EV Chargers NI (evchargersni.co.uk).
The headline numbers
Three figures capture the state of EVs in Northern Ireland: a growing fleet, a charging network that has not kept pace, and a gap to the rest of the UK that shows in every measure of provision.
59.4
per 100,000 people
Public charging devices in Northern Ireland
The lowest of any UK nation, and roughly a third of the UK average of 171.9.
18.4
per 100,000 people
Rapid (50kW+) charging devices in NI
Against a UK average of 39.5. NI also sits bottom of the table for rapid provision.
~30,000
on NI roads
Electric vehicles in Northern Ireland
More than double the figure of two years earlier, but still only about 2.3% of NI's 1.27 million vehicles.
Charging devices per 100,000 people: NI vs the UK nations
The single clearest measure of the gap. Northern Ireland sits bottom of the table on both total provision and rapid provision.
| Nation | All devices per 100,000 | Rapid (50kW+) per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 228.5 | 57.2 |
| Wales | 179.3 | 39.6 |
| United Kingdom (average) | 171.9 | 39.5 |
| Northern Ireland Lowest | 59.4 | 18.4 |
Source: Department for Transport, "Public electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics: 1 April 2026", published 21 May 2026, data correct as of 1 April 2026. England is published as nine separate regions rather than a single figure, so it is not shown as one row here.
How many electric vehicles are on NI roads?
Adoption is the other half of the picture. The fleet is growing quickly in percentage terms, from a low base.
Around 30,000 EVs, and rising fast
Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister stated there are around 30,000 electric vehicles on Northern Ireland's roads, a figure that had more than doubled in the previous two years. That still represents only about 2.3% of Northern Ireland's 1.27 million registered vehicles, so there is a long runway ahead.
Source: statement by the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister, reported 10 February 2025 alongside a Department for Infrastructure survey of NI motorists.
Why the charging gap matters more here
With the sparsest public network in the UK, home charging carries more of the load in Northern Ireland than almost anywhere else. For most NI drivers a smart home charger on an overnight tariff is the practical way to run an EV cheaply, rather than relying on public infrastructure that is still catching up.
See our cost to charge an EV in NI guide.
Methodology and sources
Every figure on this page is taken directly from an official government release and is linked below with the date it was published or the date the data was correct. We publish only figures we can attribute to a named source. Where a desirable statistic could not be verified against a primary source, we have left it out rather than estimate it. Per-100,000-population figures are the Department for Transport's own standardised measure, which is why they are used here in preference to raw device counts.
Sources
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Department for Transport: Public electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics, 1 April 2026
Charging devices per 100,000 population by UK nation, total and rapid (50kW+). Data published 21 May 2026, correct as of 1 April 2026.
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Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister on EV numbers (reported 10 February 2025)
Around 30,000 EVs on NI roads, more than doubled in two years, about 2.3% of 1.27 million registered NI vehicles. Reported alongside a Department for Infrastructure survey of NI motorists. Data published 10 February 2025.
-
Department for Transport: Vehicle licensing statistics data tables
The underlying UK vehicle-licensing series (including regional plug-in vehicle tables) that the fleet figures draw on.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is reviewed each quarter as new Department for Transport releases are published. Last reviewed 11 July 2026.
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