Revealed: Best London boroughs to live in for EV drivers for 2025
Electric vehicle (EV) ownership is growing across the UK, with over 1.6m EVs on the road as of July 2025. What’s more, the UK Government's £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG), offering eligible buyers up to £3,750 off the purchase price of new EVs under £37,000, means demand for electric vehicles shows no sign of slowing.
However, a recent survey of drivers reluctant to switch to electric vehicles found that 36% cite a lack of local charging points as a key concern, whilst around a quarter of businesses blame a lack of reliable on-street charging as a key barrier preventing them adopting an EV fleet.
That’s why EV charging experts The Solar Co have analysed London’s charging network to identify the boroughs with the best coverage, the fastest growth, and the highest share of rapid chargers.
Alongside this, George Penny, EV charging expert at The Solar Co, outlines 5 steps that can save Londoners switching to an EV over £4,700.
Hackney, Redbridge and Richmond upon Thames top London’s EV charging network performance
| Rank | Council | Public EV charge points | Public EV charge points per 100,000 people | New public EV charge points per 100,000 people (July 24 to July 25) | % increase in number of EV charge points (July 24 to July 25) | No. high speed EV chargers (50Kw+) | % EV chargers that are high speed (50Kw+) | Overall EV Charging Score |
| 1 | Hackney | 1214 | 464 | 236 | 103% | 31 | 3% | 6.7 |
| 2 | Redbridge | 377 | 121 | 68 | 126% | 84 | 22% | 6.1 |
| 3 | Richmond upon Thames | 1331 | 683 | 168 | 33% | 97 | 7% | 5.8 |
| 4 | Waltham Forest | 1204 | 436 | 188 | 76% | 26 | 2% | 5.6 |
| 5 | Havering | 114 | 43 | 13 | 41% | 92 | 81% | 5.6 |
| 6 | Lambeth | 688 | 217 | 61 | 39% | 70 | 10% | 4.3 |
| 7 | Barnet | 792 | 204 | 88 | 76% | 7 | 1% | 4.0 |
| 8 | Haringey | 325 | 124 | 23 | 23% | 76 | 23% | 3.9 |
| 9 | Wandsworth | 1734 | 527 | 86 | 20% | 45 | 3% | 3.9 |
| 10 | Newham | 344 | 96 | 22 | 30% | 58 | 17% | 3.5 |
Analysing the number of publicly available EV chargepoints per 100,000 residents, the number of new EV charge points and the prevalence of high-speed public charging options, the study from The Solar Co reveals that Hackney is officially London’s best Borough for EV charging, with 1,214 total chargers, a 103% year-on-year increase, and dense coverage of 464 per 100,000 people.The borough added 616 new chargers in the past 12 months, making it one of London’s fastest movers, although only 3% of its network is high-speed.
Redbridge ranks second with the fastest growth rate in London at 126%, adding 210 new chargers to reach 377 in total. While its network is smaller, it stands out for rapid charging, with 84 high-speed units accounting for 22% of its provision - among the highest shares citywide.
Richmond upon Thames takes third place with 1,331 chargers and an exceptionally high density of 683 per 100,000 people, including 97 high-speed units. Waltham Forest ranks fourth with 1,204 chargers and strong coverage of 436 per 100,000 people. It expanded rapidly in the past year, adding 518 chargers for a 76% boost, though just 2% are high-speed.
Havering secures fifth place with a modest network of 114 chargers but an unusually high rapid-charging share of 81%, including 92 high-speed units. The borough added 33 chargers over the past year, growing its network by 41%, and stands out for prioritising speed over sheer numbers.
Lagging Behind: London Boroughs with the Weakest EV Charging Networks
| Rank | Council | Public EV charge points | Public EV charge points per 100,000 people | New public EV charge points per 100,000 people (July 24 to July 25) | % increase in number of EV charge points (July 24 to July 25) | No. high speed EV chargers | % EV chargers that are high speed (50Kw+) | Overall EV Charging Score |
| 1 | Greenwich | 211 | 84 | 73 | -14% | 30 | 14% | 1.8 |
| 2 | Tower Hamlets | 379 | 122 | 116 | -5% | 37 | 10% | 2.1 |
| 3 | Camden | 652 | 294 | 299 | 2% | 31 | 5% | 2.1 |
| 4 | Hammersmith and Fulham | 2674 | 1437 | 1444 | 0% | 38 | 1% | 2.1 |
| 5 | Hounslow | 643 | 206 | 221 | 8% | 29 | 5% | 2.3 |
| 6 | Westminster | 2746 | 1299 | 23 | 2% | 36 | 1% | 2.3 |
| 7 | Enfield | 283 | 87 | 13 | 17% | 23 | 8% | 2.3 |
| 8 | Southwark | 1874 | 601 | 10 | 2% | 45 | 2% | 2.4 |
| 9 | Sutton | 245 | 117 | 17 | 17% | 23 | 9% | 2.4 |
| 10 | City of London | 95 | 876 | 111 | 14% | 3 | 3% | 2.4 |
These figures show that while London’s charging network is expanding overall, some boroughs are struggling to keep pace. Greenwich, for example saw a 14% fall in growth this year with just 211 public charge points - only 84 per 100,000 people. Tower Hamlets, despite having 379 chargers, suffered a 5% drop, while Camden’s 652 chargers include only 31 high-speed units, just 5% of its total. Even Hammersmith and Fulham, with an impressive 2,674 charge points, offer just 38 rapid chargers - barely 1% of the network.
Westminster and the City of London also rank among the top 10 worst boroughs for EV drivers - despite strong overall coverage, with over 2,700 charging points in Westminster alone, both boroughs fall behind on high-speed chargers, which account for less than 3% of their networks.
George Penny, EV charging expert at The Solar Co comments:
“Our research highlights the dramatic differences in EV charging provision across London, showing both the progress made and the gaps that still remain. Boroughs like Hackney, Redbridge and Waltham Forest are leading the way in expanding their networks, with Hackney alone doubling its chargers in the past year. At the same time, outer boroughs such as Havering stand out for prioritising rapid charging, with over 80% of its network made up of high-speed units.
"For Londoners considering the switch to electric, or EV owners visiting the capital, the findings show how location can make a real difference - from the density of chargers on your doorstep to the share of rapid units available for quick top-ups".
Thinking about making the switch to EV? George's 5 tips for Londoners to save £4,736:
Cash in on the government’s £3,750 grant for EVs
The government’s new Electric Car Grant offers up to £3,750 off the cost of eligible EVs under £37,000 - a saving that can make a big difference to household budgets. On a typical £32,000 EV, this reduction could cut monthly lease or finance payments by around £100. For many motorists, that’s the equivalent of a tank of petrol covered each month, before even factoring in lower running costs. Acting early is key, as demand for grant-eligible models is already high and funds are finite.
Over 125,000 Londoners should switch tariffs to save £374.80 per year
With energy bills still high, when you charge matters almost as much as where. There’s currently 193,000 EVs on the road in London, however 65% of Brits don’t have a fixed energy tariff and therefore paying higher rates to charge their car at home via the standard variable rate. This means 125,450 Londoners may not be on a cheaper, EV-specific energy tariff, missing out on savings of up to £374.80 when comparing the standard variable rate with the cheapest available EV tariffs.
2.1 million London households eligible to save £350 on an EV charge point
The government is currently offering up to 75% of installation costs through the EV Chargepoint Grant, capped at £350 per unit, for rents or flat-owners that lack off-street charging facilities. With 61% of Londoners, and therefore 2.1 million households lacking off-street charging options, including renters, homeowners and landlords, can avoid the full out-of-pocket cost and ensure access to the cheapest charging possible.
Apply for an EV-specific resident parking permit to save £237 annually
70% of London Boroughs offer discounts on annual parking permits EV drivers, with average savings across these boroughs totalling to £237 each year. Honing in on specific areas, Islington, for example, offers significant discounts of up to £650, whilst Westminster offers discounts of up £243 per year and Camden of up to £466 per year.
Avoid range anxiety and save £25 on long trips this bank holiday with smart travel planning
Running out of charge mid-journey remains a concern for EV-sceptics, however data reveals that the average UK car trip is just 8.1 miles, meaning even smaller EVs with a range of 150 miles can comfortably cover typical journeys before needing a recharge.
For longer trips, apps like Zap-Map and Bonnet allow drivers to plan routes with charging stops built in. Londoners planning a 600 mile round trip this bank holiday can save an average of £24.30 by proactively planning where to charge their vehicle, allowing them to access cheaper public chargepoints rather than relying on more expensive options at service stations.