Electric vehicle charge point provider InstaVolt has installed its 200th rapid charger just 12 months after installing its first unit in Devon.

The company has reported that it recently topped user satisfaction rankings for electric charging networks in the country that can be used by multiple models of EVs via a subscription-free contactless payment.

Its ‘tap to pay’ chargers can be found at petrol forecourts, Bannatyne Health Clubs and have also been embraced by independent retailers keen to step-up their EV offering to customers.

Chief executive, Tim Payne, said that the business' latest milestone is proof that well capitalised private firms are leading the charge when it comes to expanding the UK’s public charging infrastructure.

“Our 200th station has been installed at Locks Heath Shopping Village in Hampshire,” said Payne.  

“Retail sites are an ideal location for our rapid chargers as they offer drivers an easily accessible location with plenty of amenities, and are a natural fit with dwell times that match typical charging sessions.”

Tim Blight, owner of Blights Motors, an independent retailer in Bideford, Devon, told AM sister titl;e Independent Dealer how he had teamed up with InstaVolt to install a chargepoint  which sees the dealership draw ground rent from the provider, which then makes money from customers charging.

Blight said: “The relationship with InstaVolt sees us rent the space to them, with no outlay from us at all."

Payne said: “At a time when the government is under pressure to ban the sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2032, bringing forward its original date by eight years, the need for reliable public charging infrastructure is greater than ever.

“Drivers will only feel ready to transition to EV’s when they have confidence in the public charging infrastructure.

"This means providing a network with the highest level of reliability and customer service.

“The private sector is perfectly aligned with customer needs in this regard, as I believe the most reliable and accessible network will quickly become the most popular with drivers. We’re proud that drivers have recognised our efforts in the latest Zap-map survey.”

There are currently 10,888 public chargers in the UK. The majority of these are slow chargers which can take many hours to fully recharge a vehicle.

Only 1,823 public chargers are rapid chargers, requiring just minutes to add significant range. InstaVolt believes that rapid charging will quickly become the principal means of public charging.

Payne said: “In order for drivers to drive an EV in the same way that they are used to driving a conventional vehicle, they need to be able to recharge quickly and continue their journey.

"By using the InstaVolt network of rapid chargers drivers can be confident of a reliable experience, and being back on the road in minutes.”