EV Hotspots in the UK

The UK’s EV hotspots revealed

Many of us will be used to seeing electric cars on the road, with the number of vehicles noticeably increasing over the last few years. As brands begin to produce their take on the electric car, drivers have more options than ever before. But which locations around the UK are drivers choosing electric over traditional petrol and diesel vehicles?

At Xcite Car Leasing, we sent a FOI to the DVLA to reveal the EV hotspots in the UK. To do this, we’ve taken a look at the data to determine factors such as which location has the most EV drivers as of 31st January 2024, some of the best-selling EVs in the UK and the most driven EV brand.

Stockport has the most EV drivers in the UK

Our data reveals that Stockport in Greater Manchester is home to the most EV drivers in the UK. With a huge 84,936 drivers choosing an electric vehicle, Stockport tops the table with around 13,000 more EVs on the road than in London.

There are a few reasons why Stockport may be leading the way when it comes to driving electric. There are a huge number of car showrooms and garages in Stockport which could be responsible for the high uptake. But as well as this, Manchester and the surrounding areas are paving the way for clean air zones (CAZ). Whilst this is still ongoing, it’s likely that drivers — including businesses and fleet vehicles — decided to get ahead of this initiative by making the change before it was established.

Stockport Council also announced around £15 million worth of EV charging infrastructure to be introduced into the town and its surrounding areas, which could be the reason for the jump in EV buyers.

Top 10 areas with the most EVs

The next location with the highest number of EVs is in London. The capital boasts over 70,000 electric vehicles, however, it’s still nearly 13,000 behind those in Stockport. In third place with nearly half of the number of those in Stockport, is Swindon with 42,823 registered vehicles as of last year.

Interestingly 90% of the top 10 areas with the most EVs all have Tesla as their best-selling EV, with only Milton Keynes and Birmingham opting for other electric vehicle manufacturers.

Remote locations need the infrastructure to buy EVs, as study shows 9 locations with only 1 EV Registered

Various destinations around the UK have only one EV registered there, including Caledon, Forsinard, Isle of Scalpay, Llanarth, Lochailort, Marianglas, Rogart and Sandringham and Stromeferry.

For example, Stromeferry's a village situated on the south side of Loch Caron. It’s an incredibly remote location with a small population which minimises the potential for EV drivers. Not only this, as a remote village in the Highlands, it’s likely there's very little infrastructure around this area to support electric cars, and a lack of dealerships to promote these vehicles. Only one Kia EV's registered at this location.

Other areas that have a lower EV uptake include Bamburgh in Northumberland with 3 registered EVs, New Tredegar in Wales with only 2 and Isle of Iona in the Inner Hebrides with 4 EVs. One of the common factors between these 3 places is they're all remote with smaller populations — with less chance of having easy access to charging infrastructure.

The best-selling electric vehicles by location

Each location included in our data allows us to delve into the details surrounding best-selling brands and where they’re most popular.

For example, the most popular electric vehicle driven in London is the Tesla, but it topped the charts in many towns and cities with 46.8% of destinations included in our data choosing the brand as their most popular electric vehicle.

This may not come as too much of a surprise as one of the most well-known EV brands. But from this, we can deduce that more drivers in cities like London are switching to electric vehicles due to clean air initiatives being introduced. There's also a higher concentration of Tesla dealerships in the South of the country.

Edinburgh, Liverpool and Leeds also follow suit with Tesla being their most driven EV. But in comparison, the best-selling car brand in Birmingham is Vauxhall.

As the second largest city in the UK with a population of over 1 million, drivers in Birmingham are more likely to choose this brand due to the number of EVs offered by the manufacturer. Drivers are likely to be using these models to get from A to B due to their affordability and longevity. Whereas in London, residents are less likely to need to drive due to public transport.

Tesla comes out on top as the most popular EV brand

When analysing our EV Hotspot data, Tesla comes out on top as the overall most-driven EV brand in the UK with 187,251 cars on the road. They’re one of the most well-known electric vehicle manufacturers globally, but what makes them stand out from the rest?

Tesla combines range capabilities with high performance, as well as futuristic technology and of course, a variety of models with modern body shapes. Tesla also boasts zero emissions and staggering levels of brand awareness, making it the first choice for many EV drivers.

A runner-up, but with a huge 100,000 fewer EVs on the road than Tesla, Volkswagen is the second most-driven EV brand in the UK. Volkswagen's a well-known, trusted brand continuously developing its range of electric vehicles. These stylish cars with modern controls are more affordable and, therefore, a popular choice with a wide range of EV drivers.

Similarly, Nissan comes in a close third place with only 1000 fewer vehicles on the road than Volkswagen. A trusted brand in the UK, the Nissan Leaf became hugely popular in the last decade. Building on this success, Nissan is continuing to develop futuristic-looking cars that are affordable and suitable for the everyday driver.

Microcar is one of the rarest EV brands on UK roads

From our data, we can see some of the most driven EVs on the roads and the locations where they’re most popular — but we can also use it to analyse some of the rarest EVs on the road.

The Microcar brand was introduced in France 30 years ago. However, it's still relatively rare in the UK. Interestingly, they produced the world's first lightweight saloon, the M.G0-3-model, weighing under 400 kg. However, according to our data, only one model's registered.

This particular Microcar is registered in Middlesbrough. Along with the Microcar, Middlesbrough's also home to other rare EV brands, like Genesis and AIXAM.

Whilst you may not have heard of Microcar, there are other EVs developed by well-known brands that are still rarely seen on roads around the UK. This includes Ferrari — which could be due to the brand only producing one hybrid option. Alfa Romeo also only has 2 EVs on the road in the UK, both in the south in Worthing and London. There are currently only 2 EVs available developed by this brand.

Other rare EV brands that might be more difficult to spot on the roads around the UK include Aston Martin with only 11 vehicles, the MIA EV with 14, and Dayun with 36.

Spencer Blake, Director of Xcite Car Leasing commented on the findings: “It's great to see the uptake of electric vehicles across the country increasing, especially after challenges with the diesel ban and the lack of EV incentives in place. We’ve seen a 156% increase in enquiries for EVs in March 2024 compared to March 2023, showing that drivers are still interested in making the switch. Brands such as Tesla, Nissan, VW, and Lexus models are all seeing significant interest, with great lease deals available, especially.”

Tips on caring for your electric vehicle 

More of us will be charging our cars in the future, rather than filling them with fuel, so knowing how to care for an EV is essential. Care and maintenance can improve longevity, battery health and overall range. Here are 5 tips to get the best from your EV:

1. Install a home charging unit

As an electric vehicle owner, charging your car when you’re not using it is essential so it’s ready for your next trip. Installing a home charging unit means you can plug your EV in when you park and top up the battery overnight. Not only does this mean it’ll be ready for your commute the next day, but it also means you have unlimited access to a charger as and when you need it — so you don’t have to rely on public infrastructure.

2. Keep your cable in the car

Whilst it might seem obvious, keeping your charging cable in the car's a good idea. Whilst tethered units are commonplace at most public charging stations, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to use them. Keeping your cable in the car means you’ll have an option if you desperately need to charge.

3. Stick between 20-80% charge

The sweet spot for charging is between 20-80%. If you regularly let your EV run down to 20% charge, you may notice this affects its performance. Similarly, keeping your EV charged to 100% degrades the battery more quickly.

To keep your car’s battery in the best condition, try and remain within these percentages. Some cars allow you to set a limit on charge so you don’t have to worry about it.

4. Give your EV a run-out regularly

Just like petrol and diesel cars, you must give your EV a run-out regularly to help maintain battery health. If you’re using your electric car every day — for commuting or longer journeys — this isn't something you’ll need to worry about. If your EV's mostly sitting on your drive or in the garage, try and drive it at least once a week.

5. Be aware of how extreme temperatures can impact your EV

Did you know extreme weather can impact the way your EV performs? In the summer, make sure you park your electric car in the shade to prevent the battery from overheating. This is essential for longevity.

Extremely cold weather can also affect your EV, reducing overall efficiency and range. If you can, park your car in a garage or enclosed parking space to reduce exposure to the drop in temperature.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to an electric car — whether you’re looking for a small, city car, a sporty car, or an SUV suitable for the whole family — browse a huge range of electric and hybrid deals at Xcite leasing.

Methodology

Xcite Car Leasing sent an FOI to the DVLA asking for the number of electric vehicles registered to all cities and towns across the UK as of 31st January 2024. All vehicles were included in the data, including cars, bikes and trucks, hybrid and electric vehicles may be included in the data provided.