Nearly half of electric vehicle (EV) drivers in the United Kingdom have opted against holidaying in Britain with their cars due to worries about finding charging stations, according to new research. The study by Compare the Market found that 48 percent of UK-based EV drivers have avoided domestic breaks because of these charging concerns.
This hesitation comes as the number of EVs on UK roads, estimated by the RAC to be 2 million, continues to rise. Charging infrastructure availability is significantly influencing travel plans for Britons this summer. The research indicated that nearly one in three UK drivers identified finding a charging point as their primary concern on longer journeys. EV drivers typically begin looking for a charging stop around 71 miles into a trip, with one in four checking charging availability before departing.
The availability of charging points at accommodations is particularly low. Only 4 percent of holiday lets in seaside towns offer charging facilities, making coastal trips challenging for EV owners. Campsites fare only slightly better, with just 8 percent providing chargers.
Despite these concerns, some locations in the UK are proving more accommodating to EV drivers. An analysis of EV-friendly seaside towns and national parks considered public charging availability, charger speeds, and private charging options at accommodations. Worthing was identified as the top seaside town, scoring 61 out of 100, with 69 public charging points within a five-mile radius. Bournemouth followed with a score of 53, and Clacton-on-Sea with 51.
Among national parks, Dartmoor ranked highest for EV owners, achieving a score of 65 out of 100. The park offers 18 public charging points, including fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid options. The New Forest and South Downs national parks were ranked second and third, respectively.
Public charging infrastructure in the UK has seen substantial growth since 2021. Across the top seaside towns, it has increased by an average of 552 percent, and in the leading national parks, it has grown by 640 percent.
Amy Rootham, car insurance expert at Compare the Market, commented on the findings: 'While the UK's public charging network has expanded significantly in recent years, our research suggests driver confidence hasn't quite kept pace. Nearly half of EV drivers have decided against a UK holiday because of charging concerns, despite charging infrastructure growing by more than fivefold across many of Britain's most popular staycation destinations.'