More ultra-rapid chargers—but will your EV actually charge at 150kW?

Zapmap’s Q3 figures, published 6 October 2026, show 124,738 public chargers across 48,298 UK locations, up 9% year-on-year. More importantly for longer journeys, chargers rated at 150kW or above increased 39.1% to 15,335, while the country now has 1,070 larger rapid-charging hubs. Zapmap Q3 charging statistics. Zapmap

Why customers care: The useful change is not simply “more chargers”; it is the growth of multi-charger, high-powered locations that make long journeys less dependent on one solitary unit. However, a 150kW charger does not mean every car will take 150kW.

Points you could make in your own voice:

• “Check the car’s maximum DC charging rate and charging curve, not just the charger’s number. A 50kW-limited car will still take roughly 50kW from a 150kW unit.”
• “In cold weather, use battery preconditioning where the car provides it—usually by entering the charger into the built-in navigation. A cold battery may charge considerably more slowly.”
• “Ultra-rapid charging is about convenience, not necessarily economy. Use it for journeys and charge at home or more slowly when practical; AA figures found home charging 66% cheaper per mile than petrol, while ultra-rapid charging was around 15% dearer.” AA EV Readiness Index, 23 September 2026. AA

The infrastructure numbers are firm evidence. Faster and easier journeys are a reasonable inference, but the customer’s actual charging time still depends on the car, battery temperature, state of charge and whether power is shared at the site.