Coventry best place to charge plug-in car in the UK, Jeep finds

Coventry is the best place in mainland Britain for plug-in car owners to charge their vehicles, research by Jeep has found.

Analysis of the latest government data, by Jeep, found that there is currently one charging device for every 15 plug-in hybrid cars registered in the UK, while in Coventry, there is one device per 2.3 registered plug-in car owners.

However, the Outer Hebrides tops the list, with the Na h-Eileanan Siar local authority having one charger for every 2.13 cars.

Other areas leading the charge were Fermanagh and Omagh, in Northern Ireland (2.5 cars per charger), Wandsworth in London (2.6) and the Isle of Anglesey (2.8).

Damien Dally, Jeep country manager, said: “The UK’s charging infrastructure is improving every day and it’s great to see charging devices popping up across the country.

“Sales of plug-in hybrids are up by almost 90% this year as motorists look for a more sustainable way of driving around.”

Jeep recently revealed its first electrified model to be sold in the UK, the Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrid.

As part of the research, Jeep surveyed 2,000 UK motorists, 1,600 petrol, diesel and hybrid car owners and 400 who have either a plug-in hybrid or pure electric car.

The research found that the average motorist drives just 26 miles per day, while 60% of petrol and diesel car owners drive fewer than 20 miles per day.

It also revealed that 79% of motorists think the Government should be investing more in improving public charging infrastructure and 76% said there should be a greater investment in on-street charging where motorists don't have off-street parking.

One in five petrol and diesel drivers support the introduction of road pricing to offset the loss in fuel duty revenue, this rises to 59% of plug-in drivers, according to the research.

Dally said: “Our research shows the public is supportive of the move towards electric vehicles, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that those who have made the switch are more in favour of the transition.

“With 71% of petrol, diesel and hybrid drivers covering fewer than 30 miles per day on average, a plug-in hybrid would give them the benefit of zero emission driving while providing the comfort of a petrol engine to fall back on for longer journeys as well."

Local authority / plug-in cars per charge point