The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports in October Copyright AFP/File GREG BAKER
One of the concerns, or at least points of awareness, for electric vehicle drivers is where and when to charge up. For the UK, some roads and areas are better than others. For example, the M180 in Lincolnshire has just 0.22 charging stations per junction, making it the UK’s worst motorway for EV drivers.
This comes via new research that has identified the M180 as the UK’s worst motorway for electric vehicle charging access, creating significant anxiety for EV drivers.
The findings come from the firm Simpson Partners who analysed 35 UK motorways to determine which roads present the biggest challenges for electric vehicle owners. Researchers examined two key factors: the number of EV charging stations per junction and the density of junctions per mile.
UK’s Top 10 Worst Motorways for EV Anxiety
| Rank | Motorway | Length (miles) | EV Stations per Junction | Junctions per Mile | Score (out of 100) |
| 1 | M180 | 25 | 0.22 | 0.36 | 10.91 |
| 2 | M40 | 89 | 1.43 | 0.26 | 22.74 |
| 3 | M18 | 26.5 | 0.92 | 0.45 | 29.66 |
| 4 | M56 | 33.3 | 1.00 | 0.54 | 34.18 |
| 5 | M48 | 12 | 0.63 | 0.67 | 34.89 |
| 6 | M5 | 162.9 | 2.63 | 0.31 | 38.77 |
| 7 | M11 | 55 | 3.11 | 0.33 | 41.97 |
| 8 | M6 | 232.2 | 2.45 | 0.38 | 42.63 |
| 9 | M62 | 107 | 2.23 | 0.44 | 43.56 |
| 10 | M1 | 193.5 | 2.38 | 0.42 | 44.30 |
The M180 in Lincolnshire scored just 10.91 out of 100 on the combined index, with a mere 0.22 charging stations per junction. This 25mile stretch connecting Scunthorpe to the M18 has only two EV charging stations accessible within one mile of its nine junctions.
The M40, running 89 miles between London and Birmingham, ranked second worst with a score of 22.74. Despite having a higher ratio of 1.43 charging stations per junction, its very low junction density of 0.26 junctions per mile means drivers have fewer opportunities to exit and charge their vehicles.
Yorkshire’s M18 takes third place for EV anxiety with a score of 29.66. The 26.5mile motorway offers just 0.92 charging stations per junction, meaning drivers cannot reliably access charging points at every exit.
The M56 in the North West ranks fourth worst with a score of 34.18. This 33mile motorway connecting Manchester to North Wales has an average of one charging station per junction but relatively few junctions per mile, limiting charging options for EV drivers.
The M48 in South Wales and South West England completes the top five worst motorways with a score of 34.89. Despite being only 12 miles long, this motorway connecting England and Wales has just 0.63 charging stations per junction.
The M5, spanning 163 miles from Birmingham to Exeter, ranks sixth worst with a score of 38.77. While it offers a respectable 2.63 charging stations per junction, its low junction density of 0.31 junctions per mile means drivers may travel considerable distances between charging opportunities.
The M11 in East England ranks seventh worst for EV anxiety with a score of 41.97. This key route connecting London and Cambridge offers 3.11 charging stations per junction but has only 0.33 junctions per mile.
The M6, Britain’s longest motorway at 232 miles, ranks eighth with a score of 42.63. Despite having 218 charging stations across its route, the sheer length of this motorway presents challenges for EV drivers planning longer journeys.
The M62 crossing the Pennines between Liverpool and Hull ranks ninth with a score of 43.56. With 105 charging stations across 47 junctions, it averages 2.23 charging stations per junction.
The M1, one of Britain’s busiest motorways connecting London to Leeds, completes the top ten worst list with a score of 44.30. It offers 2.38 charging stations per junction across its 193mile length.
At the other end of the scale, the M60 Manchester orbital motorway ranks best for EV accessibility with a score of 84.01. It offers 4.57 charging stations per junction and has a high junction density of 1.03 junctions per mile, making it ideal for electric vehicle drivers.
The M65 in Lancashire ranks second best with a score of 80.69. This 26mile motorway has the highest ratio of charging stations at 5.79 per junction, providing excellent coverage for EV drivers.
