An assessment of chargepoint provision at motorway service areas has determined that Welcome Break’s Corley services on the M6 is the go-to MSA for EV drivers.
Moto’s Reading services on the M4 was deemed the second best site for chargepoint users, with Extra’s Cobham services on the M25 taking bronze. Fleet services on the M3, and Baldock on the A1(M) completed the top five.
The rundown saw services ranked for the number of chargers they offer and the proportion of sockets that dispense electricity at rapid (50kW+) or ultra-rapid (q50kW+) speeds, together with customer satisfaction ratings for MSAs, and the number of food options available at each stop.
Each assessment area was given equal rating, meaning that while Reading’s 85 chargers outnumber Corley’s 62, the latter’s 14 catering options, together with its strong customer satisfaction rating on Motorway Services Online, saw it secure the top spot.
The rankings come from online car marketplace Cinch, which determined that a number of MSAs, including Keele on the M6, Oxford on the M40 and Membury on the M4, lack ultra-rapid chargepoints. Reading services, meanwhile, has the greatest 150kW+ provision, with 54 devices.
Moto’s Exeter services had the third highest number of chargers, at 65, and the third highest number of ultra-rapid devices, at 44, but its poor customer satisfaction score meant that it was not included in the top 10 motorway service areas for drivers of electric cars.
Ben Welham, Cinch’s spokesman, comments: “For EV drivers, a good service station is no longer just about being somewhere to stop for a coffee or use the facilities. Charger availability, charging speed and the overall experience while waiting can all make a real difference to how smooth a longer journey feels.”
