BMW and Zapmap reveal British road-trip charging destinations
As families set off for a British summer holiday to beauty spots like the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the Lake District, data from Zapmap and BMW UK has revealed how easy it is to charge an electric vehicle.
Across the UK last year, according to Zapmap more than 16,600 EV charge points were added – a year-on-year increase of 45%.
There are now over 64,000 charge points available across more than 33,000 locations, with BMW assisting with plans for 135 charge points in UK National Parks. To date, 78 new charge points have been installed across seven National Parks, which can expect 15 million visitors across the summer months of July and August.
There are now 91 charging locations within two miles of main roads on a trip between London and the Yorkshire Dales, and between Glasgow and the Peak District it is 144 and Bristol to the Lake District it is more than 180.
Graham Biggs, Corporate Communications Director at BMW UK, said:
“While the ever-growing number of EV charge points in the UK is encouraging, it’s vital that the momentum is accelerated and that rural areas are not left behind in the EV transition. A spread of chargers across the UK and into the countryside ensures that people can visit natural beauty spots this summer in the quietest cars and without tailpipe emissions – helping protect these precious places from noise and pollution.
“We believe that nature should be protected and accessible for everyone and that’s why we’re so proud of the work we are doing with UK National Parks through The Recharge in Nature partnership.”
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO of Zapmap, said:
“The days of EV range anxiety are quickly fading. With improvements in vehicle range, an increasing number of enroute chargers and more chargers available at leisure destinations, EV drivers can plan fun days out with confidence.
“A little bit of planning goes a long way and the Zapmap app, which shows live charge point availability, can make longer EV journeys stress-free and enjoyable.”
Image courtesy of BMW