Which charging sites were the hottest spots for electric car charging in July? We’ve crunched the numbers and named the winners based upon our charger usage data.
When the UK’s local travel restrictions started to ease back in May, we recommended the best charging sites on our network to help you get to your quintessential British summer holiday destinations with minimum stress.
After comparing usage of these chargers between June 2021 and July 2021, we saw an overall 10% increase in charging at these sites, and even more impressive increases in usage for individual chargers.
So, was Scotland, Wales or England the winner of the most popular electric car road trip destination? Read on to find out our most popular summer charging hot spots for July, based upon the total amount of electricity delivered by each site and the highest-performing chargers.
Visiting Scotland
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the chargers we recommended for visiting Scotland:
- 4,632kWh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 22% increase in usage of our ultra-fast 150kW chargers in Scotland
- 5% increase in usage of the top performing charger in Perth
In case you missed them, these were the charging sites we recommended:
Whether you’re heading to Inverness or the Isle of Skye, this is a great site for a top up before venturing further north.
View details of this charger in Perth on PlugShare
If you’re planning a city break in Glasgow or Edinburgh, ultra-fast charging will also shortly be available in Harthill, just off the M8.
View details of this charger in Harthill on Plugshare
The gateway to the North
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the charging hub in Lancaster we recommended for drivers heading North of Manchester:
- 11,881kWh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 15% increase in total usage of the recommended chargers
- 128% increase in usage of the top performing rapid charger
- 421% increase in usage of the top performing fast charger
In case you missed it, this was the charging site we recommended:
You’ll be spoilt for choice at this charging hub in Lancaster. The hub provides charging for up to 18 electric vehicles, with 6 rapid chargers and 6 destination chargers on site.
Located just off junction 34 of the M6, this hub is the perfect place to stop for a quick charge on the way up to the Lake District or Cumbria.
View details of this charging hub in Lancaster on PlugShare
Touring Wales
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the chargers we recommended for drivers touring around Wales:
- 4,232kWh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 33% increase in total usage of the recommended chargers
- 30% increase in usage of the recommended rapid charger
In case you missed them, these were the charging sites we recommended:
You could plug in at a lot worse places than in Colwyn Bay. Work on your tan and top up your battery at the same time with this destination charger.
View details of this charger in Colwyn Bay on PlugShare
Or, if you’re heading into Snowdonia or visiting the Three Peaks, check out this rapid charger at the Royal Oak Hotel that’s just off the A5.
View details of this charger in Betws-y-Coed on PlugShare
Heading South
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the chargers we recommended for drivers heading South:
- 6,925kWh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 17% increase in total usage of the recommended chargers
- 71% increase in usage of the top performing rapid charger at Concierge Camping
In case you missed them, these were the charging sites we recommended:
One of our favourite charging locations is Concierge Camping in Chichester, which is arguably the best campsite for electric vehicle charging in the UK!
Not only is it home to two of our rapid chargers, but it also has Tesla destination chargers on site, so chances are high there’ll be a charger available when you arrive.
View details of this charging site in Chichester on PlugShare
Or, if you’re heading down to Devon or Cornwall, you could stop for a quick charge (and some farm-fresh food) at Strawberry Fields Farm Shop in Lifton!
View details of this charger in Lifton on PlugShare
Visiting the New Forest
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the chargers we recommended in the New Forest:
- 2,028kWh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 24% decrease in total usage of the recommended chargers
- 42% increase in usage of the top performing charger at the Motor Museum
In case you missed them, these were the charging sites we recommended:
You’ll be pleased to hear there’s a rapid charger available at the Forest Lodge Hotel in Lyndhurst, so you can top up before you hit the trails.
View details of this charger in Lyndhurst on PlugShare
For the motoring buffs among you, you can plug in to charge for no cost when visiting the Motor Museum in Beaulieu – making it a perfect destination for a family day out!
View details of this charging site in Beaulieu on PlugShare
Heading to the Isle of Wight
In July 2021, we saw the following results for the chargers we recommended for heading to the Isle of Wight:
- 9,286Wh total energy delivered by the recommended chargers
- 4% decrease in total usage of the recommended chargers
- 6% increase in usage of the top performing rapid charger at Isle of Wight Ferry terminal
In case you missed them, these were the charging sites we recommended:
Visitors to the Isle of Wight are well catered for when it comes to electric car charging, with rapid chargers available at either end of the ferry journey and a few destination chargers on the Isle too.
Whether you’re looking to top up your car in Lymington, before you leave Portsmouth, or when you arrive on the Isle of Wight, there are some great charging options available.
View details of this charger in Portsmouth on PlugShare
View details of this charger in Lymington on PlugShare
View details of this charger on Fishbourne on PlugShare
July’s winning holiday charging hot spots
So, where were the hottest spots for electric car road trips based on our charging data and which chargers were the most popular overall?
Wales was the winner of the most popular summer charging site based on an overall charger usage increase of 33%, followed by Scotland with an increase of 22%, and the South with an increase of 17%.
However, the charging hub in Lancaster delivered the highest individual charger performance with a 128% increase in usage for one of the rapid chargers and a 421% increase in usage for one of the fast chargers.
And, for delivering almost 12,000kWh of electricity, we have to name the Lancaster Park and Ride as our most popular summer charging site for electric car road trips in July 2021!
Planning a road trip in your electric car but haven’t thought about charging yet? Join our network today to gain access to over 8,000 chargers throughout the UK!