Worst part of UK to own an EV named as £63m investment unveiled

The worst region of Great Britain to be an electric vehicle (EV) owner has been revealed, just after a £63 million government investment to supercharge the UK's EV revolution was announced.

In an effort to encourage people to ditch their internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and switchover to electric vehicles (EVs), the initiative announced in mid July will significantly add to the UK's ever-growing charging network.

The nation already has 82,000 public charge points, with an additional 100,000 expected by 2030 through the government's Local EV Infrastructure Fund, as well as £6 billion of private investment. It comes after news anyone buying fuel next week given '£15 charge' warning by The AA.

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But despite this significant growth in the UK's EV charging infrastructure, certain regions remain seriously underserved, making them among the worst places to own an EV. According to government figures, Northern Ireland stands out as the area with the fewest public charging points — approximately 36 chargers per 100,000 people, the lowest ratio in the UK. According to data from zapmap, the country has a total of 690 public EV chargers as of the end of June 2025.

Following Northern Ireland, the data shows the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber also have low charger densities, with approximately 66 devices per 100,000 people. Other areas with low per capita provision include the East Midlands and East of England, at around 73 and 87 chargers per 100,000 respectively, well below the UK average of 108.5 chargers per 100,000. Unsurprisingly, London tops these figures with 250.4 chargers per 100,000 people.

To address these challenges and more, the UK government announced the £63 million investment in July 2025 aimed at expanding and improving EV charging accessibility. This funding package allocates £25 million toward enabling at-home charging solutions for drivers without off-street parking — a common barrier, especially in urban areas with limited private driveways.

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Another £30 million is dedicated to business depots to support electrification of commercial vehicles including heavy goods vehicles, vans and buses. Additionally, £8 million is targeted at the NHS to electrify ambulance and medical fleets across over 200 sites.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighted this investment's role in making EV ownership easier and more affordable nationwide, stating, "We’re building a fairer, cleaner future where every family can benefit from cheaper, greener transport." Efforts will also include improved road signage for EV charging hubs to better inform and reassure drivers.

While the UK rapidly expands its charging network, the ongoing geographic imbalance demonstrates that more targeted support is necessary to level the playing field. The new investment aims to mitigate these issues, helping to ensure equitable access to charging facilities and supporting the UK’s goal of leading Europe’s EV transition.

This investment is part of the government's Plan for Change, designed to accelerate the move to net zero, back British manufacturing and create greener jobs, all the while lowering transport costs for families.

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