Two-thirds of electric vehicle drivers have waited more than 10 minutes to charge

Two-thirds (66%) of electric vehicle (EV) drivers have been forced to queue more than 10 minutes at public charging stations for an available device, fresh research reveals.

Direct Line Motor Insurance, which commissioned the survey of 1,000 UK EV drivers, said the findings expose "significant challenges with public charging infrastructure".

The typical delay endured by respondents who reported having to wait to begin charging was 22 minutes, though some faced waits of up to two hours.

Some 74% of those polled discovered public charging bays occupied by vehicles that weren't plugged in, whilst 64% encountered broken devices.

Four out of five (80%) admitted that when organising UK leisure trips they seek destinations reachable without requiring a mid-journey recharge.

Matt Pernet, head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, said: "Reliable and accessible charging is crucial for confidence and convenience among EV drivers.

"These findings highlight the impact of public charging infrastructure on electric vehicle owners.

"The summer holidays are well under way and these statistics show how many people would have planned their route based on the need to charge their vehicle.

"For EV drivers, being prepared is crucial: plan your route, find where the charging facilities are and consider where they may be busiest.

"Avoiding certain times of day could also be a consideration."

Delvin Lane, the chief executive of public charger company InstaVolt, expressed his understanding for EV drivers who face difficulties when charging, stating: "We empathise with EV drivers who experience challenges when charging.

"Across the UK there are now more than 84,000 public charging points, with the network growing by around two new chargers every hour."

The Government has made a commitment to prohibit the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars and vans from 2030.

A report released by the National Audit Office in December last year found that the UK's deployment of public EV chargers was "on track" to meet the total of 300,000 that the Department for Transport estimates will be the minimum required by that time.

- The survey of 1,000 UK EV drivers was conducted by research company Censuswide last month.