Cinch: Corley tops UK ranking of best motorway services for EV drivers

The top 10 motorway service stations for EV drivers are:

1. Corley – M6

2. Reading – M4

3. Cobham – M25

4. Fleet – M3

5. Baldock – A1(M)

6. Peterborough – A1(M)

7. Newport Pagnell – M1

8. Stafford – M6

9. Beaconsfield – M40

10. Hilton Park – M6

At the other end of the ranking, Doncaster North (M18) finished bottom, followed by Sutton Scotney (A34), Hamilton (M74), Bothwell (M74) and Bridgwater (M5).

Ben Welham, motoring expert at cinch, said the findings reflect a shift in what drivers now expect from a motorway stop. “As more drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, motorway services are becoming a much more important part of journey planning,” he said. 

“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.

“The best-performing service stations are those that hit the sweet spot in several areas. Corley is a good example of that, as it combines plenty of chargers with fast-charging provision, a variety of food options and a solid customer satisfaction rating.”

Reading has the most EV chargers 

Although Corley ranked first overall, Reading (M4) recorded the highest number of EV chargers of any motorway service station studied, with 85.

Cambridge Services (A14) followed with 80, ahead of Exeter (M5) with 65 and Corley (M6) with 62. Cobham Services (M25) rounded out the top five for total charger numbers, with 55.

However, Cambridge’s overall position was held back by the speed of its charging provision, with only 8% classed as rapid or ultra-rapid.

The motorway service stations with the most EV chargers are:

1. Reading (M4): 85

2. Cambridge (A14): 80

3. Exeter (M5): 65

4. Corley (M6): 62

5. Cobham (M25): 55

Gordano (M5) recorded the fewest chargers overall, with just three, followed by Doncaster North (M18) with four and Oxford (M40) with six. Tibshelf (M1) recorded seven chargers, while Sutton Scotney and Tamworth each recorded eight.

Ben added: “The data shows why drivers should look beyond the total number of connectors alone. A service station can have loads of chargers, but if not many are rapid or ultra-rapid, that could still mean a longer stop before getting back on the road.”

Reading leads for ultra-rapid charging

When looking specifically at ultra-rapid charging, Reading Services (M4) again came out on top with 54 ultra-rapid chargers recorded.

Cobham (M25) ranked second with 48 ultra-rapid connectors, followed by Exeter (M5) with 44, Corley (M6) with 43 and Peterborough on the A1(M) with 42.

The motorway service stations with the most ultra-rapid chargers are:

1. Reading (M4): 54

2. Cobham (M25): 48

3. Exeter (M5): 44

4. Corley (M6): 43

5. Peterborough (A1(M)): 42

Several service stations recorded no ultra-rapid chargers in the study, including Keele (M6), Oxford (M40), Cambridge (A14), Membury (M4), Sedgemoor (M5), Tibshelf (M1), Gordano (M5), Tamworth (M42), Sutton Scotney (A34) and Doncaster North (M18).

The services where rapid and ultra-rapid chargers dominate

Baldock and Peterborough, both on the A1(M), Gloucester (M5) and Donington Park (M1) all recorded 100% rapid or ultra-rapid chargers.

Cobham (M25) also performed strongly, with 98% of connectors classed as rapid or ultra-rapid. Corley (M6), Birchanger Green (M11), South Mimms (M25), Grantham North (A1) and Rivington (M61) each recorded 97%.

The motorway service stations with the highest proportion of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are:

1. Baldock (A1(M)): 100%

2. Peterborough (A1(M)): 100%

3. Gloucester (M5): 100%

4. Donington Park (M1): 100%

5. Cobham (M25): 98%

Cambridge recorded the lowest rapid and ultra-rapid charging proportion at just 8%, despite having 80 connectors overall. Skelton Lake (M1) followed with 23%, while Sedgemoor (M5) recorded 33%. 

Ben said: “Availability of fast chargers is one of the biggest considerations for drivers planning longer EV journeys. A large charging hub is useful, but drivers also need to know whether the chargers are likely to get them back on the road quickly.

“Sites where most or all charging provision is rapid or ultra-rapid are more convenient for motorists who need to stop, recharge and continue their journey quickly.”

Stafford offers the most food options

Charging stops take longer than a traditional fuel stop, meaning the quality and range of facilities on offer can also play an important role in the EV driver experience.

Stafford Services (M6) recorded the highest number of food options in the study, with 18 in total. Fleet followed with 16, while Cobham ranked third with 15.

The motorway service stations with the most food options are:

1. Stafford (M6): 18

2. Fleet (M3): 16

3. Cobham (M25): 15

4. Beaconsfield (M40): 14

5. Corley (M6): 14

6. Newport Pagnell (M1): 14

Bothwell (M74) recorded the fewest food options, with two, while Tebay (M6) and Severn View (M48) each recorded three. 

Tebay is the UK’s highest-rated motorway service station

Tebay Services (M6) recorded the highest customer satisfaction rating in the study, with an average score of 4.51 out of 5.

Corley (M6) ranked second with 4.26, followed by Strensham (M5) with 4.24 and Gloucester (M5) with 4.16.

The highest-rated motorway service stations are:

1. Tebay (M6): 4.51

2. Corley (M6): 4.26

3. Strensham (M5): 4.24

4. Gloucester (M5): 4.16

5. Oxford (M40): 4.06

Despite scoring highest for customer rating, Tebay ranked 47th in the overall service station ranking for EV drivers, due to fewer food options and a weaker charging provision than many of the highest-ranked locations.

Bridgwater (M5) recorded the lowest customer satisfaction rating in the study, with 1.96 out of 5, followed by Scotch Corner on the A1(M) with 2.35 and Doncaster North (M18) with 2.47.

Ben added: “Tebay clearly performs very strongly when it comes to the overall visitor experience, and that is reflected in how highly customers rate it.

“But EV drivers have a specific set of needs around charging speed and availability. That’s why a service station can be popular with visitors without being the best option for someone who needs to charge quickly and continue their journey.”

Advice for EV drivers planning a longer journey

Ben said drivers heading off on a longer trip should check more than just the number of chargers available before deciding where to stop.

He said: “Before setting off on a longer EV journey, it’s worth checking where chargers are available, what type they are, whether there are alternatives nearby, and what facilities are available if you need to stop for a little longer. 

“Planning charging stops in advance can help reduce stress, particularly during busy travel periods when motorway services are likely to be busier. It’s also worth checking whether the connectors at a planned stop are compatible with your vehicle, as access can vary across different networks and charger types.

“Thanks to apps like cinchCharge, EV drivers can plan their charging stops without any faff. The ability to filter by charger availability and speed is a real game-changer, particularly when you consider you now have over 95,000 chargers to choose from across the UK.”