The Western Isles are one of the top four best places in Scotland to own an electric car, according a new report. 

Orkney is the best area in Scotland to own an electric car with more than 137 charging points per 100,000 population.

But East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and West Lothian are revealed as the worst places to own an electric vehicle

The study by car usership experts CarGuide.co.uk analysed the number of electric car charging points on ZapMap and ONS data to establish which local authority in Scotland has the highest number of charging points per 100,000 population.

Orkney has 40 total charging points in the area to serve a population of 22,400.

The second-best local authority in Scotland was Stirling which has 126.5 charging points per 100,000 people.  East Lothian ranks as the third best area with Na h-Eileanan Siar in fourth place with the equivalent of 105.7 charging points per 100,000 people.

The worst area in Scotland to own an electric car is revealed to be East Dunbartonshire, which has the lowest number of accessible charging points per population with only 23 per 100,000 available. With a total of 25 public charging devices across the area and a population of 108,750, Bolton is the area with the least access to charging points for electric vehicle owners.

East Renfrewshire is the second-worst Scottish area for owners of electric vehicles with a population of 96,060 and only 24 charging points across the area. This equates to 25 public charging devices per 100,000 – the second lowest number of all areas analysed.

The local authority of West Lothian has the third-worst rate of charging points for electric vehicle owners with only 25.6 charging points per 100,000. West Lothian has a population of 183,820 and 47 total public charging devices, ten of which are rapid chargers.

CarGuide.co.uk founder, Olli Astley, commented on the findings: “Whilst we at CarGuide.co.uk believe that Motorists getting into electric vehicles is the best way forward due to the benefits to the environment, the UK’s charging infrastructure still has a way to go.

The study was conducted by CarGuide.co.uk which helps motorists to find the best way to find a car.