The UK’s EV North-South divide widens

London’s infrastructure is surging ahead while the South West faces the greatest strain, says LeaseCar

A striking imbalance in the UK’s electric vehicle charging network, suggests LeaseCar. The car leasing expert’s data highlights a North-South divide in infrastructure which could slow EV adoption across key regions.

LeaseCar has uncovered key trends in the UK's electric vehicle (EV) landscape, highlighting a significant imbalance in charging infrastructure and a notable shift in the most popular EV models for both cars and vans.

The report, which analysed UK vehicle registration data and public charger data from 2014 to March 2025, reveals that while London has the highest concentration of EV chargers, it has the lowest demand, with just seven registered electric vehicles for every public charger. This contrasts sharply with the South West, which faces the greatest strain on its infrastructure, with 52 EV cars or vans for every charger, the highest ratio in the UK.

“The data shows a clear disparity in how the UK's EV charging network is being rolled out," said Tim Alcock, director for LeaseCar. "While it’s positive to see investment in infrastructure, it’s not always going to the areas that need it most. This uneven distribution could be a barrier to wider adoption in regions like the South West, where drivers are more reliant on a functioning network.” 

Despite a growing market and turbulent brand popularity in the US, Tesla continues its dominance in the UK EV market.

The Tesla Model 3 holds the title of the best-selling electric car of all time in the UK, with over 123,000 registrations since 2014. However, the data reveals a new trend, the Tesla Model Y has overtaken its sibling to become the most popular electric car in 2025 so far. Other EV and hybrid models showing strong growth in new registrations this year include the Audi Q4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan 

Key findings

• Charging disparity: London has the most public EV chargers but the lowest demand per vehicle (7 EVs per charger). The South West has the highest demand (52 EVs per charger) despite having far fewer chargers.
• Rapid charger hotspots: The South East has the highest number of rapid chargers (50kW and above), while Northern Ireland has the fewest.
• Most popular EVs (All time): The Tesla Model 3 is the top-selling electric car overall, followed by the Tesla Model Y and the Nissan Leaf.
• Top sellers in 2025: The Tesla Model Y leads the pack for new registrations this year, followed by the Tesla Model 3 and the Volkswagen Tiguan.
• Electric vans: The Vauxhall Vivaro is the most popular electric van of all time. For new registrations in 2025, the Ford Transit Custom (plug-in hybrid) has taken the top spot.

The analysis highlights the significant growth in the UK’s EV market, with a huge spike in new electric car registrations since 2019. This is attributed to government incentives such as plug-in car grants and benefit-in-kind schemes that have encouraged greater uptake. Despite this, only 3% of cars on UK roads are currently pure battery electric vehicles.

The report also touches on key barriers to adoption, noting that affordability is a major concern for 68% of people, according to recent research. However, with falling technology costs and an emerging second-hand market, the financial landscape is rapidly improving for prospective EV owners.