The UK’s Most EV-Friendly Places Revealed

New research highlights the most convenient places to own an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle

• Coventry is the UK’s electric car charging hotspot with 41 charging devices for every 100 ULEVs on the road
• Slough is the UK’s EV capital with electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles accounting for almost one in eight of all registered vehicles
• Eden in Cumbria has the best rapid charge network with 10.9 rapid chargers per 100 electric vehicles.
• Searches for electric cars are up 74% since the fuel shortage began.
• Data for your region, county or local authority is available on request.

Coventry is the most convenient place in the UK to own an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle, according to analysis from car insurance experts at money.co.uk.

As forecourts around the country return to normal, the recent fuel shortage has put the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels under a new spotlight. And while electric and plug-in hybrids accounted for almost a fifth (18%) of new car registrations in August, ultra-low emissions vehicles make up just 1.5% of all cars on our roads.

However, it seems that last week’s petrol crisis may have been enough to cause some motorists to ditch the gas guzzler for good. In fact, Google searches for ‘electric cars’ were 74% higher in the first week of the petrol shortage compared to the previous week.

So, as we prepare for an electric-powered future, where in the UK do motorists have the fewest barriers to making the switch, and where is the electric revolution running out of charge?

Using data on the number of registered ULEVs and publicly available charging and rapid charging points, money.co.uk can reveal the most convenient places in the UK to own an electric vehicle.

Top 10 most EV friendly local authorities

Public charge points per 100 EVs

1. Coventry – 40.9
2. Brighton and Hove – 31.8
3. Westminster – 29.2
4. Isle of Anglesey – 28.0
5. Pembrokeshire – 27.7
6. Lincoln – 27.3
7. Kensington and Chelsea – 26.3
8. Fermanagh and Omagh – 25.3
9. Gwynedd – 25.3
10. Sunderland – 25.2

Top 10 least EV friendly local authorities

Public charge points per 100 EVs

1. Stockport – 0.1
2. Swindon – 0.3
3. Slough – 0.3
4. Peterborough – 0.4
5. Windsor and Maidenhead – 0.8
6. Watford – 0.8
7. Renfrewshire – 0.9
8. Forest of Dean – 0.9
9. South Gloucestershire – 0.9
10. Rushmoor – 1.1

Data for any of the 366 local authorities included in the study, as well as local authorities by region available on request.

James Andrews, senior car insurance editor for money.co.uk commented: “With the sale of new petrol and diesel cars set to end by 2030, electric and alternatively powered car ownership is expected to skyrocket over the next few years.

“However, our research shows that the quality of public charging networks varies considerably across the country, meaning it’s vital we invest in the infrastructure now to avoid having to play catch-up in the future.

“Making the switch to electric is better for emissions and could also be kinder to your pocket. But before you run out to buy a Tesla, take some time to see what grants are available and calculate charging costs to make sure it’s the right thing for you and your personal circumstances.”

Kindly credit the research with a link to the following URL: https://www.money.co.uk/car-insurance.htm

See money.co.uk’s guide to see how you could save money by driving an electric car