Wakefield named UK’s most practical town for EV ownership

E.ON UK rates top locations for running an EV based on public and fast charging stations, homes with parking and average electricity costs

Wakefield has been ranked as the UK’s best location for EV ownership, benefiting from a high share of fast chargers and widespread home parking.

Rotherham and York round out the top three, highlighting South and North Yorkshire as some of the most EV-friendly areas in the UK.  

E.ON UK analysed factors to find out which UK locations are the most EV friendly. They include the percentage of properties for sale with parking or a garage and therefore suitable for home charging, the number of public EV charging points per 100,000 people, percentage of faster public charging points that are 50kW or above, and the average electricity unit rate.  

Wakefield ranks as the most convenient for running an EV. The West Yorkshire city earned a score of 79.74 out of 100 for EV friendliness. Wakefield has 61.5 EV chargers per 100,000 people, and 65.91% of the chargers are 50kW or above. The majority (94.7%) of properties for sale in Wakefield come with parking or garages and the electricity unit rate is 25.09 pence per kWh.  

Rotherham ranks as the second-most convenient location to have an EV. The South Yorkshire town earned a score of 71.06 out of 100 for EV friendliness. It has 78.6 EV chargers per 100,000 people, and 37.44% of the chargers are 50kW or above. The percentage of properties for sale in Rotherham with parking is 88.30% and the electricity unit rate is 25.09 pence per kWh.  

In York, 87.61% of properties for sale include parking or garages, and the electricity unit rate stands at 25.09 pence per kWh. The city has 83.1 EV chargers per 100,000 people, with 28.82% offering 50kW or above. York earned a score of 69.18 out of 100 for ease of owning an EV, ranking it as one of the most convenient places in the UK to own one.  

With 104.7 EV chargers per 100,000 people and 47.71% offering 50kW or above, Chesterfield stands out as one of the UK’s most EV ready towns. Residents also benefit from 91.50% of properties for sale including parking or garages, alongside an electricity unit rate of 25.31 pence per kWh. Altogether, Chesterfield earned a score of 68.98 out of 100 for EV friendliness.   

Doncaster scored 68.57 out of 100 for EV friendliness, making it another strong location for EV ownership. The South Yorkshire city has 65.6 EV chargers per 100,000 people, 38.73% of which are 50kW or above. In addition, 88.19% of properties for sale in Doncaster include parking or garages, and the electricity unit rate is 25.09 pence per kWh.  

Milton Keynes ranks sixth with a score of 68.09 out of 100. Milton Keynes has 300.5 EV chargers per 100,000 people, although only 28.02% are 50kW or above. Residents benefit from 90.54% of properties for sale having parking or garages, with an electricity unit rate of 26.27 pence per kWh.  

Lincoln earned a score of 67.12 out of 100 for EV friendliness. The city has 139.5 EV chargers per 100,000 people, with 26.57% offering 50kW or above. Residents have an electricity unit rate of 25.31 pence per kWh, and the city has 88.82% of properties for sale that have parking or garages.  

Cheltenham boasts 193.4 EV chargers per 100,000 people, though only 9.96% of them are 50kW or above. The city’s electricity unit rate is 25.39 pence per kWh, and 91.07% of properties for sale include parking or garages. Cheltenham scored 67.11 out of 100 for EV friendliness.  

Leeds earned a score of 66.63 out of 100 for EV friendliness. The city has 83.9 EV chargers per 100,000 people, with 20.43% offering 50kW or above. Leeds also has 86.04% of properties for sale that include parking, and the electricity unit rate is 25.09 pence per kWh.  

Poole tops the list for property parking, with 95.32% of homes for sale including parking. The coastal town has 66.2 EV chargers per 100,000 people, 36.47% of which are 50kW or above. Poole earned a score of 65.40 out of 100 for EV friendliness.  

Glasgow ranks eleventh, with a score of 62.32 out of 100. Glasgow has 134.1 EV chargers per 100,000 people, 30.66% of which are 50kW or above. Residents have an electricity unit rate of 25.19 pence per kWh, and parking is available at 82.77% of properties for sale.  

Edinburgh earned a score of 62.24 out of 100 for EV friendliness. The Scottish capital has 138.6 EV chargers per 100,000 people, with 20.45% offering 50kW or above. A total of 84.13% of properties for sale include parking or garages, and the electricity unit rate is 25.19 pence per kWh.  

Worcester scored 61.70 out of 100 for EV friendliness. There are 150.8 EV chargers per 100,000 people, with 21.02% offering 50kW or above. The city has 86.76% of properties for sale that offer parking, and the electricity unit rate is 25.39 pence per kWh.  

With 87.18% of properties for sale featuring parking or garages, Nottingham makes EV ownership convenient for residents. The city also has 94.7 EV chargers per 100,000 people, 36.01% of which are 50kW or above. Nottingham’s electricity unit rate is 25.31 pence per kWh, and overall, it scored 61.63 out of 100 for EV friendliness.  

In Sheffield, 32.73% of the city’s 68.0 EV chargers per 100,000 people offer 50kW or higher, supporting faster EV charging. Parking is available at 81.13% of properties for sale, and the electricity unit rate is 25.09 pence per kWh. These factors contributed to Sheffield’s score of 61.31 out of 100 for EV friendliness.  

Dave Butters, UK market director for 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.”