The UK’s WORST EV charging network revealed as users slam ‘underwhelming’ service, high prices & fiddly app
EV OWNERS have revealed which charging network they consider to be the UK’s worst, with users slamming its “underwhelming” service and high price.
A new survey from AutoExpress asked drivers to rank all of the nation’s major networks based on factors like their charging speed, ease of use and affordability.
Each of the 11 categories was given a score out of seven, which was then used to generate an average overall rating.
And it was bad news for BP Pulse, which operates the UK’s largest charging hub in Birmingham.
Customers ranked the brand, as the worst out of the eight networks they assessed.
Boasting more than 4,000 charging points across the nation, BP is the UK’s fourth-largest provider.
But with an overall score of just 4.3 out of seven, it came seventh in both pricing and site security and sixth for the performance of its app.
In everything else, it came dead last.
Chris Rosamond, Current Affairs and Features Editor at AutoExpress, said: “As a blue-chip global oil company, you’d think BP would have the muscle to really make something out of the EV transition.
“But so far drivers appear to have been left distinctly underwhelmed by its recharging efforts.
“In fact that’s putting it kindly, as BP is ranked last in all survey categories bar three.”
However, there was another big name brand right at the opposite end of the scale.
Customers rated Tesla’s charging network either first or second in 10 out of the 11 available categories.
The only area that tripped up the Elon Musk-helmed firm was customer service, in which it fell to fourth.
Yet it was still able to generate an overall score 6.5 out of seven.
That was just enough to secure the top spot, narrowly beating out MFG on 6.4.
The top three was then rounded out by Gridserve, a little way behind on 6.0.
Chris added: “Tesla doesn’t get everything right, but you can’t argue with its logic when it comes to charging.
“Its massive investment in the UK’s supercharger network is paying dividends, with overwhelmingly positive ratings, and drivers of all compatible EVs now able to take advantage of the UK’s top-ranked public charging provider.
“Sadly the single-minded Tesla vision has not been adopted by other EV makers, private charging networks or the government, leaving drivers facing a confusing mish-mash of standards from a variety of charging networks – many that new EV drivers won’t even have heard of.”
A spokesperson for BP Pulse said: “While disappointing, we don’t believe this survey fully represents the experience of the thousands of drivers who charge their EVs with us every day.
“We’re growing our rapid and ultra-fast charging network across the UK and are committed to providing drivers with a high-quality experience every time.”