With the school holidays in full swing and many families hitting the roads, Scrap Car Comparison has reviewed data from service stations up and down the country to reveal the busiest and best service stations, particularly for those driving electric vehicles.
Analysing data from an EV database, as well as Google reviews, nearly 90 service stations across the country were included in the study, which looked at metrics including the number of EV chargers, the number of ‘check-ins’ per charger, the average review score from EV drivers, and the average Google review score from all drivers. These metrics were then combined to create one overall score to reveal the busiest and best serviced stations for EV drivers, and drivers overall.
Scrap Car Comparison will also be hiring one lucky driver as a ‘Service Station Tester’ this summer, to reveal if the data fairly reflects the real experience of someone visiting these busiest and best services.
The UK’s Best Service Stations For EV Drivers
Of all motorway service stations in the UK, Hopwood Park in Worcestershire is revealed as the best service station in the UK for EV drivers, with the services scoring 87 out of a possible 100 according to Scrap Cars Comparison’s rankings.
Hilton Park in Staffordshire follows closely in second place, with a total score of 86 and Reading services completes the top three with 84 points overall. Rounding off the top five service stations are Grantham North in Lincolnshire (scoring 83) and Swansea services on the M4 (scoring 82).
With two of its service stations ranking in the top five, and three within the top 10, the M4 is the best serviced motorway in the country, which should put any EV drivers’ minds at ease when traveling on the high-traffic corridor between London and Wales.
The Busiest Service Stations for EV Drivers
For EV drivers, one of the main concerns with needing to recharge, is how long it may take to find an available charger. With reports of significant queues for EV chargers at service stations across the country last summer, some may be left guessing their choice to travel by EV if faced with a lengthy wait.
Tibshelf services on the M1 in Derbyshire is revealed as the busiest service station for EVs, with 180 check-ins made for every charger – of which there are only three in total – at the site. Doncaster North on the M18 doesn’t fair much better, with 157 check-ins per charger, with Leicester Forest East on the M1 ranking in third with 152 check-ins for each of its 10 charging points.
Gloucester services is ranked as the best service station overall, scoring 4.5 out of 5.
Famed for its sleek design and high-quality farm shop and food offerings, the service station has become a firm favourite of many people, particularly with those venturing south towards Devon and Cornwall.
Its sister service station Tebay in Cumbria ranks with 4.4 in second place – this station was the original service station in the Westmorland duo and was the first family-owned motorway stop in the country.