UK City Hotels Lag in EV Charging Facilities

Limited EV Charging Facilities at UK City Hotels

A recent analysis by Drax Electric Vehicles reveals that only six percent of city hotels across the UK offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This study, covering over 15,000 hotels in 74 cities, highlights a significant gap in EV infrastructure.

St Davids in Wales stands out with 22 percent of its hotels providing EV chargers, while Milton Keynes, Central London, and St Albans also show relatively high percentages at 16, 15, and 12 percent, respectively. Despite this, major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and York have lower availability, with Birmingham offering chargers in only four percent of its hotels.

Adam Hall from Drax Electric Vehicles notes that while EV adoption is rising, with zero-emission vehicles making up 2.7 percent of all cars, the hotel sector still lags in providing necessary charging infrastructure. Central London shows progress, but other cities like Bristol, Edinburgh, and Manchester are behind in integrating EV facilities.

Hotels investing in EV chargers could gain a competitive edge, attract eco-conscious travelers, and support broader sustainability efforts. Naomi Nye, an EV charging specialist at Drax, emphasizes that providing EV charging is becoming essential rather than a luxury, aligning with the UK’s net-zero targets.

Drax’s data, collected through Booking.com in June 2024 for stays in January 2025, suggests that hotels adopting EV infrastructure now will be better positioned for future demands and avoid retrofit costs.