Hereford is the UK’s worst city for electric cars according to a new study. It had a measly eight public charging points for 100,000 cars which could mean that drivers are left struggling to keep their vehicles going if they have left their home without enough power.
Other areas which had a piddly number of charging points included Derry, Inverness and Northampton which all may struggle to cope with growing EV numbers on the road, reports MailOnline.
The research also revealed the best places for eco friendly motorists looking to grab some power in a public place.
At the top of the list were all located around the UK’s capital with Sutton coming out in top place with 3,188 chargers per 100,000 registered vehicles, followed by Croydon with 2,175 and London on 353.
The research compared the number of publicly available charging points with the number of registered vehicles in the area.
One of the team involved in the research told MailOnline: “When considering switching to an electric vehicle, it is not just the availability of public charging points that you need to think about, but also how you will charge your EV from home.
“This is especially important for drivers who do not have car parking spaces at home.
“The availability of charging stations is a significant factor that drivers consider when deciding whether to switch to an electric vehicle.”
They added that if a town or city isn’t prepared many drivers will simply fail to make the switch.
Earlier in December the government launched a pilot scheme to increase ultra rapid charging points along the UK’s motorways.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “This government is on the side of drivers and working with the private sector to provide robust chargepoint infrastructure is part of our Plan for Drivers, with today’s announcement paving the way for more ultra-rapid chargepoints.
“This £70 million pilot scheme is the starting point and sends a message to consumers and industry that we are investing wisely and rapidly to grow the future of transport in the UK.”
The Department of Transport added: “Motorway service areas are strategically important as regularly spaced stopping points along the motorway. Investment here addresses the need for a highly visible and dependable longer-distance charging network to support drivers and accelerate future EV purchases.
“The pilot, which is being delivered by National Highways, will help gather evidence to inform the design of a full fund.”
