Wakefield in West Yorkshire is the most convenient place in the UK to run an EV, according to E.ON UK.
The energy company said it had calculated the most EV-friendly locations based on factors including how many properties were for sale with off-street parking or garages suitable for home charging, the amount of public EV chargers per 100,000 people, the percentage of these chargers with 50kW+ capability, and the average electricity unit rate.
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Wakefield came out on top with 94.97% of properties for sale having parking or garages, 61.5 public chargers per 100,000 people, 65.91% of these being 50kW+, and an electricity rate of 25.09p per kWh, giving it an EV-friendliness score of 79.74.
Rotherham was ranked second with a score of 71.06 – helped by a high public EV charger provision – and York came third with a score of 69.18, with an even higher public charging provision but fewer 50kW+ chargers.
Completing the top ten were Chesterfield, Doncaster, Milton Keynes, Lincoln, Cheltenham, Leeds, and Poole.
| Rank | Location | Percentage of properties with parking | Public electric vehicle chargers per 100,000 people | Percentage of electric vehicle chargers 50kW+ | Electricity unit rate (pence per kWh) | Score |
| 1 | Wakefield | 94.97% | 61.5 | 65.91% | 25.09 | 79.74 |
| 2 | Rotherham | 88.30% | 78.6 | 37.44% | 25.09 | 71.06 |
| 3 | York | 87.61% | 83.1 | 28.82% | 25.09 | 69.18 |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 91.50% | 104.7 | 47.71% | 25.31 | 68.98 |
| 5 | Doncaster | 88.19% | 65.6 | 38.73% | 25.09 | 68.57 |
| 6 | Milton Keynes | 90.54% | 300.5 | 28.02% | 26.27 | 68.09 |
| 7 | Lincoln | 88.82% | 139.5 | 26.57% | 25.31 | 67.12 |
| 8 | Cheltenham | 91.07% | 193.4 | 9.96% | 25.39 | 67.11 |
| 9 | Leeds | 86.04% | 83.9 | 20.43% | 25.09 | 66.63 |
| 10 | Poole | 95.32% | 66.2 | 36.47% | 26.21 | 65.4 |
EV facilities ‘can attract consumers’
Dave Butters, UK market director for E.ON UK business unit E.ON Drive, said: “For an area to be considered friendly towards electric vehicles, a combination of accessible charging infrastructure and high-speed chargers plays a crucial role. In addition, electricity costs and the proportion of homes with off-street parking can make a real difference for residents who are deciding whether to switch to an electric vehicle and install a home charging point.
“Locations like Wakefield demonstrate that even mid-sized towns can lead the way in electric vehicle readiness when these factors align. As more people transition to electric vehicles, ensuring convenient charging options, suitable parking, and affordable electricity will be key to supporting this shift across both urban and rural communities.
“We’re still seeing many businesses and public spaces yet to invest in EV infrastructure, but provision of these facilities could now be a key choice in where consumers choose to visit.”