London is the best place in the UK to run an electric fleet, according to new analysis from asset finance providers, Anglo Scottish.
With fleet operators under growing pressure to move away from petrol and diesel, Anglo Scottish ranked 12 UK regions on their ability to support electric fleet businesses.
Each was scored out of 100 across four measures: public charger density, the number of electric cars registered to companies, the number of logistics businesses and the size of local clean air zones.
London came out on top with a score of 75.5, more than 25 points clear of anywhere else. Behind it, just three points separated second place from fifth.
| Rank | Region | Score (out of 100) | Public chargers per 100,000 residents | Company-registered EVs per 100,000 residents | Logistics businesses per 100,000 residents | Clean air zone area (sq miles) |
| 1 | London | 75.5 | 345 | 1,131 | 185 | 590 |
| 2 | East of England | 49.8 | 150 | 1,522 | 201 | 0 |
| 3 | West Midlands | 48.9 | 164 | 717 | 207 | 2.96 |
| 4 | Scotland | 48.1 | 232 | 800 | 180 | 2.74 |
| 5 | South East | 46.8 | 159 | 3,973 | 152 | 1.16 |
| 6 | East Midlands | 41.3 | 122 | 824 | 199 | 0 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 36.1 | 111 | 1,348 | 179 | 10.25 |
| 8 | South West | 29.1 | 157 | 1,671 | 141 | 2.38 |
| 9 | North West | 27.0 | 112 | 2,008 | 145 | 0 |
| 10 | Wales | 24.1 | 186 | 543 | 135 | 0 |
| 11 | Northern Ireland | 19.4 | 60 | 1,044 | 157 | 0 |
| 12 | North East | 11.1 | 150 | 513 | 113 | 0.94 |
Why does London come out on top?
London has more public chargers per head than anywhere else in the UK, with 345 for every 100,000 residents. That’s almost double the UK average of 175.
It also has by far the largest clean air footprint in the country. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) now covers every London borough, spanning around 590 square miles. No other clean air zone in the UK comes close to that size.
Andrew Morris, Head of Vehicle Solutions at Anglo Scottish, comments: “Though the capital has the infrastructure to support electric vehicles, London ranks only sixth for electric cars registered to companies, with 1,131 per 100,000 residents – below the UK average of 1,587. This, however, shows a gap in the market, indicating that green logistics businesses could thrive in the capital.”
Who else made the top five?
The East of England took second place with a score of 49.8. That’s despite ranking only eighth for charger density. It’s also the only region in the top five without a clean air zone. This region ranked highly due to its logistics sector, with 201 logistics businesses per 100,000 residents, the second-highest in the UK. It also ranked fourth for company-registered EVs.
The West Midlands ranked third at 48.9, combining the highest concentration of logistics businesses in the UK, at 207 per 100,000 residents, with a Class D clean air zone in Birmingham that applies to cars as well as commercial vehicles. This region’s score was pulled down by limited EV adoption, ranking tenth for company-registered EVs – though again, this could represent a commercial opportunity.
Scotland scored 48.1 to take fourth place. The region holds the second-best public charger density in the UK, at 232 per 100,000 residents, with low emission zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Like the West Midlands, it lags on adoption, ranking ninth.
The South East rounded out the top five with 46.8. Here, you can find the highest rate of company-registered EVs in the country by a fair margin, at 3,973 per 100,000 residents, almost double the next region. A lower concentration of logistics businesses was the main metric that prevented this area from climbing higher.
Where is adoption outpacing infrastructure?
The index found that, in some of the lower-ranked regions, EV adoption and ownership was strong, but infrastructure lagged behind. For example, the North West ranked second in the UK for company-registered EVs but tenth for public charger accessibility, with just 112 per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the South West ranked third by registered EV count, but its charger density was below the UK average.
Yorkshire and the Humber has the second-largest clean air zone area in the UK after London, thanks to clean air zones in Bradford and Sheffield. It ranks fifth for company-registered EVs but 11th for public chargers, which leaves it in seventh place overall.
“The North West and South West stand out to me,” says Morris. “Businesses there are clearly committing to electric vehicles, but the public network hasn’t kept pace. In practice, that pushes operators towards depot charging, which means charge points become part of the fleet investment and need to be budgeted for from day one.”
Where is there room to grow?
The North East’s public charger density matches that of the East of England, at 150 per 100,000 residents. It currently has fewer company-registered EVs and logistics businesses per head than other regions, which gives it plenty of room to grow as more fleets make the switch.
In Northern Ireland, the public charging network is still developing, with 60 chargers per 100,000 residents, while its logistics sector and EV uptake both sit mid-table.
Wales had the third-best public charger density in the UK, at 186 per 100,000 residents. With the infrastructure already in place, it’s well positioned for business adoption to catch up.
What should fleet managers do next?
Wherever a fleet is based, the first step is mapping regular routes against the public charging network. Where coverage is thin, depot or home charging will need to do more of the work. Operators should also check the clean air zone rules in the areas they serve, as a single zone on a regular route can change the case for switching.
“A lower ranking is a reason to plan more carefully, and it shouldn’t put anyone off,” says Morris. “We’d always suggest phasing the switch, starting with the vehicles and routes where the case is clearest. Spreading the cost of the vehicles and charging equipment over time also means the transition doesn’t hit cash flow all at once.
“As a North East business ourselves, we see the region’s potential first-hand,” adds Morris. “The public charging network here is already on a par with regions much higher up the table, and we’re having more conversations than ever with local operators about what the switch could look like for them.
“The foundations are in place. As more businesses make the move, I’d expect the North East to be one of the regions climbing this table the fastest.”
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/map-46Tg56viOUg
