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https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/electric-car-charging-points

Lack of electric car charging points 'putting off drivers'
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/electric-car-charging-points

electriccars haversine r shareddataunit transport

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Lack of electric car charging points 'putting off drivers'

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# Lack of electric car charging points 'putting off drivers'



![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/63C5/production/_106314552_charging1.jpg)



In March 2019 the BBC Shared Data Unit [reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47696839) a "patchy" network of charging points was discouraging UK drivers from embracing electric cars.



Our analysis found more than a third of local authorities had ten or fewer locations where drivers could plug in their vehicles, with wide variation across the country.



We analysed data from Open Charge Map, a crowd-sourced website of charging locations. Not every location will feature in Open Charge Map, but it aims to be a "reliable single point of reference for charging equipment location information". There is no similar resource from the government.



As part of the story we used the [Haversine formula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haversine_formula) to perform 49 million calculations for each distance (as the crow flies) between each of the 7,000 points, and then store the shortest one. 



This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside BBC staff.



In a Twitter thread, Peter Sherlock [explained why the data was used and how the team worked with that](https://twitter.com/petesherlock79/status/1114089816671563777)



The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:



* MKFM: [Milton Keynes revealed as having highest number of electric car charging stations in the UK](https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/milton-keynes-revealed-as-having-highest-number-of-electric-car-charging-stations-in-the-uk/) *5 April 2019*

* The Scotsman: [Scots gradually embracing electric car revolution as numbers rise](https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scots-gradually-embracing-electric-car-revolution-as-numbers-rise-1-4902216) *5 April 2019*

* The Darlington & Stockton Times: [Region will struggle to cope with expected boom in electric vehicles](https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/17551632.region-will-struggle-to-cope-with-expected-boom-in-electric-vehicles/) *5 April 2019*

* Rochdale Online: [Rochdale one of 137 local authorities to have no more than 10 charging points for electric cars](https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127100/rochdale-one-of-137-local-authorities-to-have-no-more-than-10-charging-points-for-electric-cars) *5 April 2019*

* Stourbridge News: [Dudley falls short on electric car charging points](https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/17554684.dudley-falls-short-on-electric-car-charging-points/) *5 April 2019*

* Chronicle Live: [Lack of charge points is threat to government plans for zero emission vehicles](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/lack-charge-points-threat-government-16079112) *5 April 2019*

* Leicestershire Live: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Stoke Sentinel: [853 motorists in North Staffordshire choose to drive an electric car - as the Government plans to phase out petrol and diesel](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/853-motorists-north-staffordshire-choose-2722731) *5 April 2019*

* York: The Press: [Electric vehicle numbers in York revealed - with 'hyper hub' charging on way](https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17552160.electric-vehicle-numbers-in-york-revealed-with-hyper-hub-charging-on-way/) *5 April 2019*

* Wrexham and Flintshire: The Leader Live: [Huge increase in electric and hybrid vehicles in Wrexham and Flintshire](https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17552894.huge-increase-in-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles-in-wrexham-and-flintshire/) *5 April 2019*

* KL.FM: [Is West Norfolk prepared for an electric car revolution?](https://www.klfm967.co.uk/news/klfm-news/2843909/is-west-norfolk-prepared-for-an-electric-car-revolution/) *5 April 2019*

* The Scarborough News: [Ryedale has third longest average distance to electric car charging points in England](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/transport/ryedale-has-third-longest-average-distance-to-electric-car-charging-points-in-england-1-9695147) *5 April 2019*

* Bob FM: [Report claims "Patchy" network of chargers is discouraging Hertfordshire's drivers from embracing electric cars](http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/report-claims-patchy-network-of-chargers-is-discouraging-hertfordshires-drivers-from-embracing-electric-cars/) *5 April 2019*

* Swindon Advertiser: [Thousands of electric cars in Swindon - but only 16 public charging points](https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17552949.thousands-of-electric-cars-in-swindon-but-only-16-public-charging-points/) *5 April 2019*

* Bristol Live: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Cornish Stuff: [Electric Car Revolution – Cornwall leading the way](https://cornishstuff.com/2019/04/05/electric-car-revolution-cornwall-leading-the-charge/) *5 April 2019*

* Nottinghamshire Live: [Thinking of buying an electric car? These are the best and worst places in Nottinghamshire to own one](https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/motoring/thinking-buying-electric-car-best-2715061) *5 April 2019*

* Nottinghamshire Live: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Cambridgeshire Live: [Lack of charge points is threat to government plans for zero emission vehicles](https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/lack-charge-points-threat-government-16079112) *5 April 2019*

* Stoke Sentinel: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Teeside Live: [Lack of charge points is threat to government plans for zero emission vehicles](https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/lack-charge-points-threat-government-16079112) *5 April 2019*

* Kent Live: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Derbyshire Live: [Nationwide shortage of charge points threatens government targets for electric vehicles](https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nationwide-shortage-charge-points-threatens-2722521) *5 April 2019*

* Romford Recorder: [Electric car charger points lag behind number of eco-vehicles in Havering, figures show](https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/politics/havering-electric-cars-charger-points-1-5980917) *8 April 2019*

* Lynn News: [E-car charging needs to be stepped up says LibDems](https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/e-car-charging-needs-to-be-stepped-up-says-libdems-9066638/) *9 April 2019*

* Nantwich News: [Electric vehicles rise by 5,750% in Cheshire East with just 34 charging points](https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2019/04/12/electric-vehicles-rise-by-5750-in-cheshire-east-with-just-34-charging-points/) *12 April 2019*

* Chronicle Live: [Northumberland revealed as having one of the highest number of electric car charging points in UK](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumberland-revealed-having-one-highest-16143525) *17 April 2019*

* Gloucestershire Live: [How prepared is Gloucestershire for the electric vehicle revolution?](https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/gloucestershire-prepared-electric-car-technology-2725734) *28 April 2019*

* The Telegraph: [Is an electric car viable for long journeys? A newcomer to battery-powered driving finds out](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/features/electric-car-viable-long-journeys-newcomer-battery-powered-driving/) *14 July 2019*



The story was also used by the [BBC News Channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNZPAQP4y2s&feature=youtu.be), BBC Radio 5 live, in a [blog by BBC Science, Environment & Rural Affairs Correspondent David Gregory-Kumar](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47817880), BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Three Counties Radio and BBC Hereford & Worcester.

 



## Get the data 



* [Analysis, with sheets for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bT0F0sj1t4_7uFrtr071tqW_yilRcl0iLshlKxmNU0Y/edit#gid=1583759189)



## Quotes and interviews



* Alex Banks from Exeter, owner of a Nissan Leaf

* Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy, RAC 

* Bridget Fox, Campaign for Better Transport

* Spokesperson, the Department for Transport (DfT)

* Spokesman, Scottish Government



## Visualisation



* Interactive map: Average distance between charging locations, by authority

* Bar chart: Local authorities with the most charging locations



## Background and briefing



* [A full briefing pack on the story can be found here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vs9WsXXeoCndHQL7a1NLrOB7-qCgGLSIQbS8goYMAoA/edit)



## Code



* [RMarkdown notebook explaining how the distances were calculated](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/electric-car-charging-points/blob/master/calculatingnearestpoints.Rmd)



## Later reporting



* The Guardian Money's article [‘Why did it take nine hours to go 130 miles in our new electric Porsche?’](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/28/electric-cars-porsche-charging-network) describes problems with the charging network as "as one after another [charging stations] were either out of order, already had a queue or were the slow, older versions that would never be able to provide a fast enough charge in the time."