With mounting concerns about air quality, fuel costs and congestion, electric vehicles offer a cleaner, more efficient way to navigate our congested roads.
Electric cars thrive in start-and-stop traffic. Regenerative braking means EVs can recoup energy, helping you to drive more efficiently and save money. On the other hand, traditional combustion engine cars often see a fuel-dip when driving in heavy traffic.
With this in mind, we looked at regions across the UK, reviewing congestion zones, and charger availability to uncover the regions most suitable for electric vehicles.
For the purpose of this study, we gave each region a score from 1-11 for each metric. The lower the overall score, the more suitable the region is for driving an electric. Read on to discover how each area scores.
Suitability index:
|
EV suitability rank |
Region |
Chargers |
Miles per region |
Traffic levels |
Congestion zones |
Total |
|
1 |
South East |
4 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
|
2 |
South West |
6 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
|
3 |
West Midlands |
2 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
16 |
|
4 |
Scotland |
3 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
17 |
|
5 |
East |
8 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
18 |
|
6 |
Wales |
5 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
21 |
|
7 |
London |
1 |
11 |
9 |
3 |
24 |
|
8 |
East Midlands |
11 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
25 |
|
9 |
North West |
10 |
10 |
3 |
4 |
27 |
|
9 |
Yorkshire Humber |
9 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
27 |
|
10 |
North East |
7 |
9 |
11 |
2 |
29 |
The South East is the most ‘ready’ for electric cars
The South East reigns supreme as the region most suitable for EV adoption with a low overall score of 13.
Our analysis of the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) figures reveal 12% of the UK’s electric vehicles are in this area of the UK. The region also accounts for 12% of the UK’s EV leasing, according to our data.
This region scored the highest in congestion levels, meaning the area is the most congested and therefore would be most suitable for electric cars. Traffic levels in this region exceeded 52 billion vehicle miles in 2023, accounting for 16% of all traffic in the UK. EV drivers in the South East will likely benefit from reduced fuel consumption, thanks to how efficient electric cars are in stop-and-start driving.
South West is the second most EV-suitable region
The South West of the UK is the second most suitable for electric vehicles, according to our research. People in this area cover the most mileage per person, when compared to other regions in the UK; cars and taxis drive approximately 4,572 miles per person, which is 678 miles higher than the average.
The region scored well for congestion zones, with two of these in the region: the Bristol Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the Bath CAZ. Clean air zones are an example of a congestion zone - a specific area in a city or town which aims to reduce traffic and pollution by imposing a fee on vehicles entering. EVs are typically exempt from these fees due to their zero or low emissions, which is a good incentive for drivers considering making the switch to electric.
The region performed well in terms of congestion zones, with two in place. Congestion zones are designated areas in cities or towns aimed at reducing traffic and pollution by imposing fees on vehicles entering. EVs typically benefit from exemptions on these congestion fees due to their zero or low emissions.
West Midlands: high EV charger density, low EV uptake
The West Midlands is the third most ready region for electric cars, having the second-highest number of chargers. Following behind London, the West Midlands has 850 people per electric charger, which is significantly higher than the figure in other regions (for example, on the other side of the UK, the East Midlands has 1,573 people per electric charger).
The West Midlands also scored well for congestion zones, so anyone driving an EV in the area could save on daily charges by being exempt.
Surprisingly, although the West Midlands is the third most suitable region, and has a high electric charger density, the West Midlands has one of the lowest EV adoption rates. The region’s electric cars account for just 6% of the UK’s electric vehicles. This aligns with leasing rates: just 7% of electric cars leased at Leasing Options are in the West Midlands.
Scotland also ranks high for electric chargers, but lacks in EV adoption
Scotland ranks fourth for being the most ready for an electric car takeover. Similarly, Scotland places third for people per electric charger at 912.73, but falls behind in electric vehicle ownership. Scotland’s electric vehicles account for just 6% of the UK’s EVs.
Residents in Scotland with an EV would likely benefit and save the most due to the area having three congestion zones - the most of any region.
The regions taking the lead on electric vehicle adoption
We’ve analysed the Department for Transport’s data on licensing numbers of ultra low emission vehicles and compared the regional figures against the UK to uncover which regions are leading in electric vehicle adoption.
As part of this, we’ve also looked at our own data to identify any hotspots for electric car leasing.
|
Region |
EV Ownership Data |
EV Leasing Data |
|
London |
13% |
16% |
|
South East |
12% |
12% |
|
East |
11% |
9% |
|
South West |
9% |
8% |
|
North West |
9% |
19% |
|
Scotland |
8% |
5% |
|
West Midlands |
7% |
7% |
|
East Midlands |
7% |
8% |
|
Yorkshire and The Humber |
6% |
10% |
|
Wales |
3% |
4% |
|
North East |
3% |
3% |
London has been found to have the most electric cars in all of the UK, accounting for 13% of the country’s electric cars. Leasing figures show that the region has leased the second most electric cars at 16%. This region was uncovered to be the most suitable for electric cars in our analysis, so clearly, residents have been persuaded by charger density, and traffic levels.
Interestingly, the South East has the second-highest amount of EVs in the UK - 12% in total. Leasing Options data shows that this area has leased the third most electric car leases at 12%.
The East has the third largest amount of electric cars in the UK, with 11% of the UK’s electric cars residing there. This region was named the fifth most suitable for electric cars, indicating residents are reaping the benefits of an EV.
The fourth biggest region for electric cars is the South West; the region is home to 9% of the UK’s electric cars, and 8% of electric leases according to Leasing Options data.
Making the leap to an electric car
Feeling inspired to join the EV revolution? We’ve spoken to Mike Thompson at Leasing Options, for his expert insight and tips on how to make the switch to an EV.
- Choose the right model for you: “There are plenty of electric cars suited to a variety of needs. Popular models like the Tesla Model 3 offer fancy tech and great range, or cars like the Kia EV9 have spacious 7-seater interiors with super-fast charging.”
- Check incentives: “You might be eligible for an electric charging grant if you’re a renter or live in a flat. This grant will cover 75% of the cost to buy and install a charger, or £350 towards it - whichever is lower.”
- Plan for charging: “Evaluate your access to home, workplace, or public charging. Some places still offer free charging, which is usually found in supermarkets. If you will be relying on public charging, make sure to check ZapMap to see nearby stations.”
Already have an electric car? Tips for first electric car owners
If you’ve already made the switch to an electric car, but want to know the best way to maximise owning one and taking care of it, Mike has shared his top tips.
- Charging: “Familiarise yourself with the different types of chargers (rapid, fast, and slow) to make charging more convenient. Thankfully, charging infrastructure is rapidly growing, with ZapMap reporting a 37% year on year increase in chargers since 2023..”
- Take advantage of off-peak rates: “Many energy providers offer cheaper electricity during off-peak hours, which is usually during the middle of the night. So, if you’re charging at home make use of overnight charging for energy savings.”
- Maximise efficiency: “To maximise your car range, minimise acceleration, and make use of regenerative braking. You should always have regenerative braking on, but try and only decelerate using regenerative braking as this will conserve the most energy. So, leave enough space for you to slow down before braking.”
- Maintain battery health: “Avoid letting your battery drop to 0%, or consistently charging to 100%. Keeping the battery charge between 20-80% is the best way to prolong its lifespan.”
Methodology:
Leasing Options has created an Electric Car Suitability Index using a combination of government data and public charging infrastructure. The index considers the number of ZapMap public chargers as of November 2024, the average miles travelled by car per person in 2023, UK traffic levels by region in 2023, and the number of clean air zones in each region. Northern Ireland was excluded due to insufficient data.
To provide a clear picture of EV ownership across the UK, Department for Transport (DfT) data on private keepership of electric vehicles was analysed. Data from Stockport, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Slough, Hampshire, Surrey, Bristol, Swindon, and Leeds was excluded to account for the presence of large leasing and finance companies that could have otherwise skewed the results.
Leasing Options’ internal data on EV leasing trends was also reviewed to complement the analysis.
