Payment experience will determine next UK EV adoption phase, says Elavon executive

Russell Green, head of emerging verticals at payment processor Elavon, argues that UK EV adoption now hinges on payment experience rather than charger quantity. Battery electric vehicles reached 30% of new UK registrations in June, while the public charging network grew to more than 121,000 chargers by end June, up 10% year on year according to Zapmap. Green writes that as the network expands and charging becomes routine, user expectations around service quality will rise.

Why it matters: CPOs competing for market share must prioritise seamless payment systems as the infrastructure buildout matures and consumer focus shifts from availability to user experience. The emphasis on payment quality signals that operational excellence, not just network scale, will differentiate winning charge point operators in a maturing market.