10 out of the UK’s 25 major airports scored five out of 20 or lower in a new national index on EV charging, according to Drax Electric Vehicles.
The Airport EV readiness index also found that several airports offered no official onsite charging or usable guidance for drivers.
It scored airports across four categories: onsite charging provision, website guidance quality, nearby public charging within a 10-mile radius, and availability of an official meet and greet service with EV charging.
Edinburgh Airport topped the index with a score of 16 out of 20, backed by 35 onsite charging bays, and maximum scores for website guidance. London City and Aberdeen also scored 16, with Edinburgh taking first place on bay count.
London Heathrow, which handles more than 80 million passengers annually, ranked 14th with a score of 9. It has no official onsite charging, though its website scores maximum marks for directing drivers to nearby public charge points.
Manchester, the UK’s third busiest airport, ranked joint 17th with a score of 5, and had no onsite charging and limited online guidance.
Airports represent a specific pinch point for charging, as vehicles are left for days at a time, drivers return from long-haul flights, and the journey home may be significant. The index was designed partly to address this, giving drivers clear information about what to expect, it said.
Naomi Nye, Head of Sales at Drax Electric Vehicles, said:
“The index tells two stories. The first is about infrastructure, and there the picture is improving but still patchy. Fifteen of 25 airports now offer official onsite charging, which is progress. But the ten that don’t include some of the busiest airports in the country.
“The second story is about communication. Clear guidance for EV drivers costs relatively little but makes a significant difference to their experience. Some airports are doing this well. Others have the charging bays but haven’t told anyone about them. Both matter, and this index measures both.
“With nearly a quarter of all new cars sold in the UK last year being electric, airports that get this right are increasingly well placed to attract and retain a passenger base that is only going to grow. Those that don’t will find themselves playing catch-up.”
Image courtesy of Drax Electric Vehicles
