According to its latest research, based on data from the National Charge Point Registry, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles can now charge at 70 of the 97 motorway service stations in the UK.

This means there are charging points at intervals of 40 miles or less along 98% of the 1,859 miles of UK motorways, with the smaller network in Wales now at 100% coverage. Of the 165 individual points at motorway service stations, 92% offer rapid charging.

By 2020-21, the UK government has committed £15m to ensure that the entire 4,668-mile Strategic Road Network, which includes trunk A-roads, will offer the same coverage. However, non-motorway routes are still lagging behind, with only 63% meeting the target. Although England offers 82% coverage, this drops to 45% in Wales and 28% in Scotland.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Electric car drivers might still struggle to drive from Land’s End to John o’ Groats but they can now travel from Southampton to Perth in a relatively straight line and be confident of being able to ‘fill up’ along the way.

“The growing charge point network is good news but there are important caveats. Though many of the charge points are rapid, it will still take at least 20 minutes to fully charge a battery, which is fine if you’re first in line but could be a challenge if the hoped-for take up of electric cars materialises and you’re stuck at the back of a long queue.”