Holidaying With An EV In The UK: EV Route Planner

The summer holidays are in full swing, but there is still time to take a break before autumn returns.

If you are an electric vehicle driver, you might be considering a road trip in your EV. Holidaying with an EV does not have to be stressful. With over 32,000 public EV charging points in the UK, you do not have to worry about running out of power during your journey (figures correct as of June 2022).

We have mapped out 4 journeys across England and Wales with charging stations en route, so you can enjoy a hassle-free start and end to your holiday. The routes below assume your vehicle is fully charged before you set off on your journey.

Short EV Road Trips

Travelling North: From Colchester to Lincoln

Destination: Lincoln Cathedral

Time: 3 hours (approx.)

Begin your journey at Stane Retail Park, where you can use a Mer 75 kW charger before you set off. Map link.

Follow Western Approach and the A1124 before heading onto the A12 to London/Chelmsford. Take the A120 when you reach junction 25, and drive onto the A120. Follow the signs for the M11, taking the 1^st exit at Priory Wood Roundabout and the 5^th at Birchanger Green Roundabout.

Take the M11, Huntingdon Road and the A1 until you reach the A46 exit. Take the exit towards the A46 at Brownhills Roundabout, and stay on until Hykehem Roundabout, where you should take the 3^rd exit for Newark Road.

Turn onto Tritton Road, and then take the exit onto Rope Walk at the roundabout. Take Cross Street, Portland Street, Canwick Road and Pottergate, and find Minster Yard after driving straight at the roundabout.

To charge your EV whilst you explore the area, retrace your path to Tritton Road, and you will find Pentagon Lincoln on the right, which has a Mer 24kW charger.

Travelling South: From Bath to Bournemouth

Destination: Madeira Carpark

Time: 2 hours (approx.)

From Snapdragons Nurseries in Weston, travel east on Weston Road and make your way to the A36. Stay on the A36 before taking the 3^rd exit onto A350 at the roundabout past the Wylye Valley Vineyard.

Here, you can divert to your on-route top-up stop in Shaftsbury. At the roundabout, take the 3^rd exit onto the B3091. Turn left onto New Road, before turning left again to reach Bell Street Car Park. There, you can top-up your EV with the Mer 22kW fast public charger if needed.

Re-trace your steps to the B3091, and take the 5^th exit onto the A350 at the first roundabout. Take the 2^nd exit to Sailsbury Road at the second, before turning right onto the B3081. Continue onto Common Drove, Millers Lane, the A354 and B3078, before taking Ringwood Road and Horton Road.

At Ashley Heath Roundabout, take the exit onto the A338 and onto the A35. This road will take you into Bournemouth.

There are several options for EV charging across Bournemouth. At Madeira Roundabout, take the exit onto Madeira Road and you will reach the Madeira Car Park, where you can find a Mer 50kW charger. Further along on Richmond Gardens is another 50kW charger at the multi-storey car park, and another on Poole Road. Near Bournemouth University you will also find another 50kW charger on Fern Barrow.

Long EV Road Trips

Travelling North: From London to County Durham

Destination: Barnard Castle

Time: 5 hours (approx.)

Begin your journey at Hanger Lane. Drive north on the A406, and take the 2^nd exit at Hanger Lane Gyratory. Take the A40 until the B467 exit towards Uxbridge, and the 1^st exit at Swakeleys Roundabout. Stay on the B467, take the exit onto the A4020, and then take the A40 at the next roundabout. Merge onto the M40.

Follow the signs for Birmingham/Oxford. At junction 3A, merge onto the M42 towards the M1/Birmingham.

When you reach junction 4, take the A34 exit to Shirley. Follow the A34 and then the B4102. Continue onto Oakenshaw Road, and you will find Sears Retail Park. There, you can use a Mer 150kW ultra-rapid charger before continuing your journey.

Retrace your steps until you reach the Monkspath Interchange. Take the exit onto the M42(N), then stay on and follow signs for the A4097/A446/M1. Merge onto the M1.

At junction 32, take the M18 exit to Hull/Doncaster/Rotherham. Continue on the M18, then take the A1(M) exit at junction 2. At junction 53, take the A66 exit to Richmond/Brough/Penrith. Take the A66, then Barnard Castle, Westwick Road and Newgate. Take the exit at the roundabout onto the A67, and you will find Barnard Castle on Galgate/A67.

At the Galgate Car Park, off the A67, you can charge with a Mer 50kW rapid charger.

Travelling South: From Newcastle To Pembrokeshire

Destination: Llys y Fran Country Park & Reservoir

Time: 7.5 hours (approx.)

Start at the TransEuropean Newcastle Shopping Park. Drive north-west towards the A193, before heading onto the A167(M). Take Gateshead Hwy, the A184, the A194 and finally merge onto the A1(M).

When you reach junction 35, take the M18 to Sheffield/M1.  After a short drive on the M18, take the exit towards the M1 and stay on for approx. 41 miles. Then, take the A42 towards Birmingham.

Follow the M42, then take the A34 exit at junction 4. Find your way to Stanford Road from the Monkspath Interchange, stay on until you reach Marshall Lake Road (B4102), and then continue on Oakenshaw Road. You will find a Mer 150kW ultra-rapid charger at Sears Retail Park.

Head back towards the M42 via the route you came from, and eventually merge onto the M5. Take the exit towards the M50 at junction 8. When you reach Traveller’s Rest, take the 1^st exit onto A449, and the 3^rd exit at Over Ross Roundabout. Stay on the A40, continue to the A449, before merging onto the M4 from Exit 24.

If you need to charge your EV, take the exit to High Cross at junction 27. Take the 3^rd exit at High Cross Interchange onto the B4591, and stay on at the next 2 roundabouts before taking the 1^st exit onto Tregwilym Road. You will see the Rogerstone Co-op to your left, where you will find a Mer 100kW rapid charger.

Get back on the M4 via the A467 and A48. Stay on the M4, and then at the roundabout take the 2^nd exit onto the A48. Stay on by taking the 3^rd exit at the next roundabout. Take the A40, and follow the signs for Llys-y-Frân. There you will find 4 Mer 22kW fast chargers, which are perfect for charging whilst you explore the site or stay overnight.

Why use a rapid charger to charge your EV?

On the above routes, we have incorporated at least one rapid or ultra-rapid charger. When travelling a long distance, you need enough power to see you through the end of your journey.

Depending on the model and age of your vehicle, rapid charging can charge your vehicle to 80% in as little as 30 minutes. If your battery is running low, rapid charging allows you to quickly top-up the battery without impacting too heavily on your journey. It ensures convenience and ease when travelling long distances.