Leading the charge: London and Nottingham revealed as top EV cities

Used-car marketplace Motorway has today announced the top 10 EV cities in the UK, with London and Nottingham coming out on top. It comes as EV sales continue to rise in the UK, with reports used EV sales grew 44.1% in Q3 2022*. 

The UK capital has been named as the city leading the charge on electric vehicle adoption, with EVs representing almost 25% of new and used car sales. It also paves the way with 8,600 public charging points. However, when it comes to charging availability, London ranks at 15, with the ratio of chargers to people standing at 1 to 1,672. Nottingham ranks second on the index, which was compiled by reviewing EV sales data by region, charging point availability and clean air policies of cities and towns across the UK.

With the 2030 electric switchover fast approaching, motorists are making a conscious effort with their car choices. Bedford ranked third for electric-vehicle readiness, following the development of its extensive net-zero strategy and its focus on installing public charging points. Meanwhile, Newcastle upon Tyne has been named as an electric vehicle hotspot with more electric cars sold in 2022 than anywhere else in the UK.

The top 10 electric car cities and towns revealed by Motorway:

  1. London
  2. Nottingham
  3. Bedford
  4. Manchester
  5. Newcastle upon Tyne
  6. Milton Keynes
  7. Bristol
  8. Oxford
  9. Coventry
  10. Southampton

As well as the climate-conscious benefits, there are several economic advantages to electric vehicles that Brits are capitalising on. Not only do they positively impact the environment, but lower running costs are likely one of the top draws to purchasing this fuel type, as motorists can save up to £650 on fuel and road tax** a year, compared to petrol and diesel cars. 

Alex Buttle, Co-Founder of online used-car marketplace Motorway said: “While I’m sure most car owners are considering making the transition to an EV at some point, there are several factors at play in the decision. One of those factors is whether or not you live in a city or town which has sufficient charging point infrastructure. We’ve created this comprehensive index to help car owners understand which areas and cities are truly leading the charge when it comes to EV-friendliness. As we look ahead to 2030, we’d love to see this list become more competitive, making it easier and more affordable than ever for car owners to make the switch.”

For an estimated valuation of your car, visit Motorway.co.uk.

And to read more about the EV cities leading the charge, visit https://motorway.co.uk/best-ev-cities 

*https://www.smmt.co.uk/2022/11/used-car-sales-q3-2022/ 

**Until 1st April 2025, when EVs  become liable for Vehicle Excise Duty, more commonly referred to as ‘road tax’.