With electric vehicle owners feeling more validated than ever following one of the nation’s worst fuel crises, attention now turns to the country’s charging infrastructure. With the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) coming into effect from Monday (October 25), London residents will rely more heavily than ever on an efficient charging network.

It comes as no surprise that research by car finance platform CarFinance 247 reveals London has one of the most extensive electric vehicle charging networks in the country, overtaken recently by the West Midlands, thanks to efforts in Coventry to move swiftly on from petrol and diesel cars.

Analysis of data from the Department for Transport by CarFinance 247 found the top 10 electric vehicle charging hotspots in the capital – with the London borough of Westminster topping the list (both in London and across the entire UK). The borough is home to more than 1000 public charging devices, in turn providing 392.4 chargers per 100,000 residents in the area.

Also scoring high on the list are Kensington and Chelsea, the City of London, and Hammersmith and Fulham. The full list can be found below.

Louis Rix, co-founder and COO of CarFinance 247 said: “In analysing data from the Department for Transport, London is clearly home to one of the strongest charging networks in Britain. It’s likely that we see such a strong charging network in the capital due to the lack of off-street parking, meaning EV owners rely more heavily on public charging points.”

Rix continues, “With Westminster topping the list, perhaps the Government have prioritised an effective charging network for those headed into Parliament.

“Kensington and Chelsea is also ranked among the best boroughs for charging an electric vehicle, showing that the strength of the charging network may lean in favour of the wealthiest areas of the capital.

“It’s no secret that electric vehicles aren’t particularly affordable in the current economic climate, and the existing charging infrastructure emphasises this – more needs to be done to makes EVs obtainable to those on lower incomes.”