The United Kingdom’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with the public’s increased uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).

According to data obtained from charge point database Zap-Map by UK online publication Auto Express, by the end of 2016 there were 85,893 electric and plug-in vehicles on Britain’s roads, up from 2,254 just four years earlier.

However the number of charging points only increased from 2,883 in 1,287 locations to 11,736 in 4,243 locations during the same period. That’s an increase in the ratio of EVs to chargers from 0.78 to 7.32.

That ratio is in danger of falling below European Union targets, with the European Parliament stating that at least one charger is required for every 10 cars on the road for EVs to be commercially viable.

With the Committee on Climate Change report predicting 700,000 EVs on UK roads by 2020, the UK would need to add 60,000 chargers in the next three years.

The UK Government has announced a £600 million (about A$970 million) boost to encourage consumers to buy electric and plug-in vehicles; however Zap-Map estimates the number of chargers will rise to just 30,000 in 12,000 locations by 2022.

On the other hand, the Government’s Go Ultra Low campaign has found that over 90 per cent of EV charging takes place in the home.