A new survey commissioned by Ionity found that 94 percent of drivers will use their EV for at least one long-distance trip this summer, consistent across all age groups, rising to an impressive 98 percent amongst those aged 35-44, often travelling with young children.
Many of these journeys go beyond UK borders during June, July and August. According to Ionity charging data, the closest countries in Europe – France, Germany and Belgium – top the list of favourite charging destinations.
These figures are also a byproduct of rising consumer confidence. 91 percent of respondents are “confident” or “very confident” about travelling longer distances in their EV.
Europe offers around 1.2 million public charging points, including more than 164,000 High Power Charging (HPC) points with charging capacities of up to 600 kW, and this means that range anxiety is continuing to fall. Barely two in five (39 percent) now cite range anxiety as a major factor – falling to less than a quarter (24 percent) of those aged over 55.
Interestingly, this confidence seems partially driven by the widespread use of charging and mobility service subscriptions. Three-quarters (75 percent) of drivers use one or more subscriptions with a charging or mobility service provider, primarily for convenience and ease of use.
Subscriptions also play an important role in supporting longer journeys: 37 percent have purchased a subscription specifically for occasional long-distance travel, while 24 percent have done so for regular long-distance travel throughout the year. In terms of keeping prices down, 54 percent would consider a short-term summer subscription if lower charging costs were guaranteed.
“We are seeing significantly increased interest in our charging subscriptions during the summer months” said Jeroen van Tilburg, CEO of Ionity. “Compared to the spring months, the number of active Ionity subscriptions more than doubles by August. As more drivers take their EVs on longer journeys across Europe, they increasingly value simplicity and consistency when charging on the road. The growing popularity of subscriptions shows that drivers appreciate having a familiar charging experience across borders, together with the cost benefits that subscriptions can provide.”
Other factors motivating drivers to use their EV for holiday travel include environmental benefits (30 percent), improved driving comfort (26 percent) and lower travel costs (22 percent). This growing confidence is reflected in charging attitudes, with more than 60 percent of respondents reporting that EV charging is either less stressful than refuelling, or no more stressful than the traditional refuelling experience.
To further support summer travellers, Ionity will once again launch seasonal initiatives such as Charge Champions this year. Specially trained teams will assist travellers directly on-site at 22 high-traffic Ionity locations across Croatia, France, Germany and Italy. They help answer charging-related questions, support efficient traffic coordination and enable seamless continental travel across Europe.
“To make charging during peak travel periods even more reliable and convenient, we rely on continuous network monitoring and data-driven maintenance to identify potential issues early and optimise charger availability across our network” added Mr van Tilburg. “Combined with our 24/7 customer support and real-time charger information in the Ionity app, this helps drivers travel with greater confidence across Europe.”
The survey was commissioned by Ionity and conducted in collaboration with Appinio in May 2026. A total of 250 UK EV drivers were surveyed.
Ionity's charging data is based on charging sessions by UK customers across the European Ionity charging network during the summer of 2025.
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