Orkney Islands are best area in Scotland to own an electric car, new study reveals

25/03/2022

A NEW study has revealed that the Orkney Islands are the best area in Scotland to own an electric car.

The study by car usership experts CarGuide.co.uk analysed the number of electric car charging points on ZapMap and ONS data to establish which local authority in Scotland has the highest number of charging points per 100,000 population.

The data found that the Orkney Islands are the area in Scotland with the highest number of charging points per 100,000 people, at 178.6. This comes as a result of 40 total charging points in the area and a population of 22,400 and makes the Orkney Islands the most accessible area in Scotland to own an electric car.

The second-best local authority in Scotland to own an electric vehicle is Stirling which has 126.5 charging points per 100,000 people. The area has a total of 119 charging points, significantly more than the Orkney Islands, but with a population of 94,080, this means that the area provides slightly less accessibility to charging points than the Orkney Islands. 

East Lothian ranks as the third best area to own an electric vehicle in the UK. The local authority has 118.6 charging devices per 100,000 people as a result of 128 public charging devices and a population of 107,900. East Lothian also has the eighth highest number of charging points at 128, below areas such as Perth and Kinross and Dundee. 

Taking the fourth spot is Na h-Eileanan Siar with 105.7 charging points per 100,000 and Argyll and Bute being the fifth best local authority to own an electric vehicle with 100.7 charging devices per 100,000 people. 

The best area in the Scotland to own and electric car
AreaRankNumber of charging points per 100,000 people
Orkney Islands1178.3
Stirling2126.5
East Lothian 3118.6
Na h-Eileanan Siar4105.7
Argyll and Bute5100.7
Highland698.1
Shetland Islands791.8
Dundee887.4
Perth and Kinross984.9
Dumfries and Galloway1068.8

The worst area in Scotland to own an electric car is revealed to be East Dunbartonshire, which has the lowest number of accessible charging points per population with only 23 per 100,000 available. With a total of 25 public charging devices across the area and a population of 108,750, Bolton is the area with the least access to charging points for electric vehicle owners.

East Renfrewshire is the second-worst Scottish area for owners of electric vehicles with a population of 96,060 and only 24 charging points across the area. This equates to 25 public charging devices per 100,000 – the second lowest number of all areas analysed.

The local authority of West Lothian has the third-worst rate of charging points for electric vehicle owners with only 25.6 charging points per 100,000. West Lothian has a population of 183,820 and 47 total public charging devices, ten of which are rapid chargers.

CarGuide.co.uk founder, Olli Astley, commented on the findings: “Whilst we at CarGuide.co.uk believe that Motorists getting into electric vehicles is the best way forward due to the benefits to the environment, the UK’s charging infrastructure still has a way to go.

The study was conducted by CarGuide.co.uk which helps motorists to find the best way to find a car. 

The worst areas in Scotland to own and electric car
AreaRankNumber of charging points per 100,000 people
East Dunbartonshire123.0
East Renfrewshire225.0
West Lothian325.6
West Dunbartonshire429.4
Fife531.3
Falkirk633.6
Edinburgh733.7
Glasgow837.8
North Ayrshire939.5
Renfrewshire1039.6

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