East Midlands trails the UK on public chargers per head, but leads on rapids
Latest government statistics show the East Midlands had 121.5 public EV chargers per 100,000 people on 1 July 2026, against 174.9 for the UK, but more rapid chargers per head than the UK average.
The Department for Transport’s latest quarterly charging statistics give a mixed picture for drivers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.
What the figures say
On 1 July 2026 the East Midlands had 121.5 public EV chargers per 100,000 residents. The UK figure was 174.9. Of the English regions, only the North West (112.1) and Yorkshire and the Humber (110.7) had fewer per head.
The picture flips for faster charging. The region had 46.7 chargers rated 50kW or above per 100,000 people, ahead of the UK figure of 41.7 and ahead of London (27.9). The data comes from the charging platform Zapmap, and the government publishes it as official statistics in development.
Why it matters if you live here
A strong rapid network helps on longer journeys along the M1 and A-roads. Fewer chargers per head overall means fewer slower, neighbourhood chargers, which are the ones that matter most for overnight top-ups. So for many households, a charger at home is still the most practical option.
If you rent, or own a flat with private off-street parking, you may be able to get up to £500 towards a home chargepoint. Homes with only on-street parking may qualify for a separate grant if a permanent cross-pavement channel is installed. Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2027. Our guides explain who qualifies:
Find a local installer
Grant claims go through an OZEV-authorised installer. You can browse authorised installers by town in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.
The government also publishes monthly regional counts, and we will report the next quarterly figures when they come out.
Source: DfT/OZEV – Public electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics: 1 July 2026