Wrexham EV Chargers Rise by 59 but Rapid Units Stay at 46 2026

Key Points

• In the first half of 2026, Wrexham installed 59 public EV chargers.
• There were 282 public chargers in the county borough on 1 July 2026 compared to 223 on 1 January.
• It represented the second-largest gain by any Welsh local authority, being outdone by Newport, which increased from 425 to 509.
• Wrexham now has 204.0 public chargers per 100,000 people, making it tenth among Wales’s 22 authorities.
• The number of rapid chargers of 50kW or higher rating was unchanged at 46 on 1 January, 1 April and 1 July.
• Wrexham has 33.3 rapid chargers per 100,000 people, putting it 16th among councils in Wales.
• The rate for the Welsh rapid-charger is 42.8 per 100,000 people, whereas the UK one is 41.7.
• There are over 60 public charging points provided by Wrexham Council, varying from 7.4 kW to 240 kW.
• Further expansion in rural areas is being planned by the council along with pavement gullies for houses without driveways.
• The latest Department for Transport statistics count individual chargers rather than charging units, a policy adopted since January 2026.

Wrexham (Wales Times) October 27, 2026 – uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham’s public electric vehicle charging network expanded by 59 chargers during the first half of 2026, taking the county borough’s total to 282 on 1 July, according to new Department for Transport figures reported by Wrexham.com.

The increase was the second largest in Wales over the period. As reported by Wrexham.com, only Newport recorded a bigger rise, with its public charger total increasing from 425 to 509.

Wrexham had 223 public chargers on 1 January and 238 on 1 April. By 1 July, the total had reached 282, an increase of 59 chargers since the start of the year.

Why has Wrexham’s charger total increased?

The expansion reflects continued investment by Wrexham County Borough Council and its charging partner, Costelloes, with part-funding from the Welsh Government. As reported by Wrexham Council News in February, work had begun with Costelloes to expand charging across the county borough, while eligible residents were offered discounted rates at chargers in council car parks.

Wrexham Council said in July that it had installed 243 public EV charging points across the county borough. It said the network included more than 60 charging locations, with equipment ranging from 7.4kW chargers to 240kW ultra-rapid units.

Councillor David A Bithell, the council’s Lead Member for Environment and Climate Champion, said: “Expanding Wrexham’s public charging network is an important part of making cleaner transport more accessible to everyone.”

He added: “By investing in reliable charging points across both urban and rural communities, we are supporting residents, visitors and businesses while helping to reduce emissions and improve local air quality.”

Where are Wrexham’s EV chargers located?

Wrexham Council said its public chargers are available in the city centre and communities including Chirk, Overton, Holt, Rossett, Ruabon, Rhosllanerchrugog, Coedpoeth, Brymbo, Gwersyllt, Johnstown, Acrefair, Cefn Mawr, Penycae, Glyn Ceiriog, Trevor, Llay and Pentre Broughton.

The council said chargers are located in town centres, residential areas, visitor destinations, transport hubs, country parks, industrial estates and leisure centres. It advised drivers to use Zapmap to find charger locations, pricing and charging speeds.

The council first installed public charging points in central Wrexham and Chirk in 2021. It said further investment was planned during 2026, with new infrastructure to be delivered in more rural communities.

How does Wrexham compare with the rest of Wales?

Wrexham now has 204.0 public chargers per 100,000 people, up from 161.3 in January. According to Wrexham.com, this places the county borough tenth of Wales’s 22 council areas.

That rate is above both the Welsh average of 185.5 public chargers per 100,000 people and the UK average of 174.9.

However, Wrexham’s position is weaker for rapid charging. The county borough has 33.3 rapid chargers per 100,000 people, ranking 16th in Wales. The Welsh rate is 42.8, while the UK rate is 41.7.

Carmarthenshire has Wales’s highest rapid-charger rate, at 75.5 per 100,000 people. Conwy has the lowest, at 12.2.

Across Wales, there were 5,910 public chargers on 1 July, up from 5,644 on 1 January. Of these, 1,364 were rated at 50kW or above. Among UK nations and English regions, only London, with 345.1 chargers per 100,000 people, and Scotland, with 231.6, had higher public charger rates than Wales.

Why have Wrexham’s rapid chargers not increased?

The number of rapid chargers in Wrexham, defined as those rated 50kW or above, remained at 46 on 1 January, 1 April and 1 July. The figures indicate that the recent growth in Wrexham’s network has come from lower-powered public chargers rather than additional rapid units.

Wrexham Council has announced several city-centre upgrades during the past year. As reported by Wrexham.com, the council said in December that two new high-powered DC chargers were to be installed at St George’s Crescent car park, with work due to begin on 12 January and last about three weeks.

Work had also started the previous month at the Library car park on new charging points, including an additional ultra-rapid charger. The latest DfT figures show that these projects had not yet increased Wrexham’s recorded total of rapid chargers by 1 July.

What has Wrexham Council said about rural coverage?

Wrexham Council said in July that it planned to install more public chargers in rural parts of the county borough. It said the expansion was intended to support residents, businesses and visitors in areas where access to charging may be more limited.

The council also said it had agreed a 15-year arrangement to operate, maintain and expand the network. It said it was exploring pavement gullies so that residents without driveways could charge electric vehicles at home.

Wrexham Council said the programme supports its decarbonisation objectives, Welsh Government ambitions for a net zero public sector by 2030, and the development of an accessible EV charging network across Wales.

How reliable are the latest EV charging figures?

The Department for Transport began counting individual chargers, rather than charging devices, in January 2026. Wrexham.com reported that this change means the latest figures cannot be directly compared with data from earlier years.

The DfT also said one charge point operator removed about 1,270 chargers from its public data in June 2026. It said these were private chargers that had been wrongly reported as public, and that comparisons between April and July may be affected.

According to Wrexham.com, the department said the change reflected improved reporting rather than chargers being taken out of use.

Background of the development

Wrexham County Borough Council began installing public EV charging points in central Wrexham and Chirk in 2021. Since then, the council has worked with Costelloes to deliver, operate and maintain public chargers, with Welsh Government funding supporting part of the expansion.

By July 2026, the council said it had installed 243 public EV charging points and had more than 60 charging locations across the county borough. It said the network included chargers from 7.4kW to 240kW and covered urban and rural communities.

The council has framed the investment as part of efforts to reduce transport emissions, improve local air quality and remove barriers to electric vehicle ownership. It has also said it is considering pavement gullies to help residents without off-street parking charge vehicles at home.

Prediction: What this means for Wrexham drivers

For Wrexham EV drivers, the additional 59 chargers are likely to make public charging more available in more locations, particularly where lower-powered chargers are suitable for longer stays. The council’s stated plans for rural expansion could also improve access for residents outside the city centre.

The lack of growth in rapid chargers may remain a concern for drivers who need a quick charge, especially those without home charging or those travelling longer distances. Wrexham’s rapid-charger rate of 33.3 per 100,000 people remains below both the Welsh and UK averages, suggesting that demand for faster public charging could continue to shape future investment.

For residents without driveways, the council’s exploration of pavement gullies may become increasingly important. If delivered, such measures could broaden access to home-style charging and reduce reliance on public chargers, while the council’s continued partnership with Costelloes is likely to determine how quickly further locations and higher-powered units are added.