# How can the same network have 97,266 devices and 121,171 EV chargers?

_United Kingdom · public network · 1 July 2026_

Because the unit changes. The Department for Transport counts physical boxes separately from EVSE that each control one charging session.

- **97,266** physical devices
- **121,171** EVSE
- **23,905** numerical difference, but not 23,905 extra boxes

Source: [Department for Transport, statistics at 1 July 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-1-july-2026/public-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-1-july-2026). DfT estimates that its sources cover above 95% of the network and describes the series as official statistics in development.

## Four correct answers to “how many?”

The same invented schematic can be counted as:

1. **1 location:** a geographic place with one or more devices.
2. **2 devices:** two physical units. One box can contain more than one EVSE.
3. **3 EVSE:** three units that each control one session at a time.
4. **5 connectors:** five physical plugs. Several plugs on one EVSE do not necessarily support simultaneous sessions.

The schematic with totals of 1, 2, 3 and 5 explains the definitions. It is not a typical configuration.

## Why DfT chose EVSE

Devices can undercount potential availability, while connectors can overcount it. EVSE better approximates how many sessions can be controlled separately.

EVSE is not a promise of availability. Outages, occupied bays, power limits and hardware design can reduce simultaneous use.

Changing the unit also changes how the network can be compared over time.

## The series break

From 2026, DfT uses EVSE as its baseline unit instead of devices. The historic device series continues separately, and the EVSE series has quarterly points from January 2025. Compare values within the same series.

## A fall without hardware disappearing

In the June 2026 feed, about 1,270 private-access EVSE had been reported incorrectly as public. Removing them from the public dataset lowered the total, but it did not describe physical removal.

## Four questions before you compare

- Which unit: location, device, EVSE or connector?
- Which date: a statistical snapshot or a live figure?
- Which access: public, private or a mixture?
- The same series: are devices compared with devices and EVSE with EVSE?

## Method, limits and sources

The totals are DfT's snapshot for UK public infrastructure on 1 July 2026. They are not live figures. The national difference of 23,905 is not a count of extra boxes, installed power or guaranteed sessions.

- [DfT: statistics at 1 July 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-1-july-2026/public-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-1-july-2026)
- [DfT: definitions and frequently asked questions](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-information/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-frequently-asked-questions)
- [DfT: EVCI data tables](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-statistics-data-tables-evci)

Published 27 August 2026. Data accessed 27 August 2026.