Labour has been urged to introduce more support measures for electric car drivers after reports revealed serious disparages in charging networks across the UK.
It comes after a new digital tool launched today by EVA England has revealed sharp regional divides in the country’s EV charging network.
The report found that London remains far ahead of major cities in the north and southwest when it comes to installing public charging points.
The updated online map breaks down electric vehicle progress constituency by constituency to reveal areas where Labour should target more supportive action.
It showed that while several London boroughs have managed to create almost universal charging access for people who don’t have driveways, cities such as Plymouth and Kingston upon Hull are still seeing electric vehicle ownership rates as low as two per cent.
The findings come at a time when nearly a quarter of all new cars sold in the UK are electric.
Yet the data makes clear that the biggest barrier for most people is still access to convenient and reliable charging, especially in areas where home charging is not an option.
Five London constituencies were found to stand out as the best in the country for drivers without private parking.
Queen’s Park and Maida Vale, Peckham, Kensington and Bayswater, Islington South and Finsbury, and Hackney South and Shoreditch have each achieved more than 99 per cent public charging coverage within a five-minute walk of homes.
Outside of London, reports revealed that EV ownership remains as low as two per cent
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GETTYThis is particularly remarkable given that around 60 per cent of Londoners cannot charge at home.
Despite this, the capital has pushed ahead with extensive public charging rollouts, proving that electric vehicles can work even for people living in flats or terraced homes.
In Queen’s Park and Maida Vale, and in Kensington and Bayswater, more than 10 per cent of all cars on the road are now electric – showing that when charging is available, people are more willing to make the switch.
Some areas outside London are also showing strong progress. Coventry and Brighton are highlighted as two of the best-performing cities for public charging access.
In Coventry South, almost nine out of 10 residents can now reach a public charger within five minutes of their home.
Brighton Pavilion has similar levels of accessibility, and EVA England expects electric vehicle ownership in these places to grow as charging becomes more convenient.
“We built this map to shine a light on the real-world experience of drivers using and charging their cars in the communities they live in,” said Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive of EVA England.
The organisation explained that improving charging access often leads to increased electric vehicle adoption, as seen in London’s most successful boroughs.
But at the other end of the scale, several constituencies across the Midlands, the southwest and the North are struggling to get residents to adopt electric cars.
Smethwick, West Bromwich, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Plymouth Moorview, Tipton and Wednesbury, and Kingston upon Hull all have electric vehicle ownership rates of two per cent or less.
EVA England’s research suggested these areas face a combination of problems.
Patchy charging infrastructure makes it difficult for residents to rely on electric cars.
Many drivers are still unsure about how the technology works, or worry about reliability on longer journeys.
On top of this, upfront costs remain a major hurdle for households already dealing with higher living expenses.
The report found that outside of London, electric car charging points are limited
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PAThese deep regional differences highlight the challenge for policymakers who want a fair and consistent transition to cleaner transport.
Without reliable and affordable charging, many parts of England will continue to lag behind.
The interactive map launched at GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourt in Stevenage also showed how much the national picture has changed over the past two years.
“The updated map shows clear areas of progress, in both attracting drivers into EVs and also in the charging infrastructure available to them, but also clear gaps,” Ms Edmonds said.
Craig Stephenson, Managing Director of Field Dynamics, said the tool “empowers communities, informs policy, and highlights where progress is being made and where support is still urgently needed.”