As the race to ensure the UK is prepared for an increasing number of electric vehicles, hots up one Hampshire firm is celebrating installing 200 rapid chargers in a year.

InstaVolt has installed its 200th rapid charger, having put its first unit in the ground in Devon just over 12 months ago.

Since then, the company has become one of the biggest brands in public charging.

Its popular ‘tap to pay’ chargers, which can be used with a contactless payment card and without the need to first register for an account, can be found at petrol forecourts, Bannatyne Health Clubs and an increasing number of leisure and retail centres across the country.

The 200th station has been installed at Locks Heath Shopping Village

CEO Tim Payne says the speed at which Basingstoke-based InstaVolt has reached the 200 milestone is proof that well capitalised private firms are leading the charge when it comes to expanding the UK’s public charging infrastructure.

He 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."

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.

Tim concluded: “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.”