by Gary / 0 comments - Orginally published:26th August 2025
Nearly 800 miles revisiting an old friend
It has been over 20 years since our last visit to Yorkshire, and even longer since a brief stopover in York, so we thought it was time to return.
We also wanted to see more of our country. Over the last 20 years or so, our focus has been further afield, and our count of UK cities was dismal. We had visited just 20 of the 76 in the UK, and don't forget London has two: The City of London and the City of Westminster.
Over the last year, we have attempted to redress the balance with visits to Wells, Salisbury, and St Albans.
How would this trip pan out, and how would our Polestar 2 EV perform?
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Planning a Yorkshire road trip with an EV
Any different from a normal car?Well, yes and no.
So we start as usual, where do we want to go, and for how long?
- York - 2 nights
- Whitby - 1 night
- Ripon - 2 nights
- Harrogate - 2 nights
We had stopped over in York in 2000 on a Scottish road trip, but had seen little of the city. (There will be a return trip to Scotland in 2026!)
On our 2003 trip, we also stopped in Whitby, where we had fish and chips, took a quick look around, and visited Whitby Abbey. That may have been it. This time we wanted to explore more.
Whitby Abbey
With the destinations locked in for this trip, Janis set about booking the accommodation. I set about planning the route, and a lot has changed since 2003!
So, for most route planning, Google Maps or Apple Maps will be used. In the Polestar, Google Maps is the default navigation software. However, I start with ABRP (A Better Route Planner). We have the premium version, which at € 50 per annum is a reasonable cost and utilises real-world data from the car. I can push this to Google Maps in the car later.
The journey to and from Yorkshire will be the longest legs, at 248 and 244 miles, respectively, and should be easy for a car with a WLTP range of 350, right? Errr, wrong. The Polestar's real-world range is closer to 250-270 at motorway speeds (if you want to check real-world data for any EV, then pop across to the EV database for more realistic figures). That means I need a charging stop both ways, and ABRP takes care of that.
The segments when I'm in Yorkshire are much shorter, taking the scenic routes, I have the following;
- York to Whitby - 58 miles
- Whitby to Ripon - 93 miles
- Ripon to Harrogate - 120 miles
All pretty easy, so let's see how we get on.
Welcome to Yorkshire
For more information on Yorkshire, we found the Welcome to Yorkshire site really useful. It covers all the regions, with a list of places to visit and recommendations to stay.
Motorway charging with an EV
Leg one: Home to YorkThe drive time is around 4 hours, and we'll need a comfort break, so a charging stop is no real hindrance.
ABRP has selected the Applegreen Electric Charging Station, located at a Welcome Break service station. (Applegreen is part of the Welcome Break group.) It is also part of the Octopus Electoverse affiliated chargers (here's a signup link if you want to share a £10 credit.) We will have credits available from the purchase of the Polestar. On-site, there is an Applegreen cafe, a Starbucks and a Burger King. The plan is to grab a coffee and a nibble.
Arriving after 155 miles and just over 3.5 hours of driving, which included a 40-minute delay on the M25, we found a free charger (there were several available); however, we were unable to get the charger to work. I could have tried another, but I decided to head to another charging station.
Polestar at Newark MFG Chargers
Under 5 miles away, there was an MFG Charging Station at an Esso Service station that had eight chargers, none of which were in use. Our coffees and snacks were from a Greggs (first time for everything). We charged for 25 minutes, drew 33.95KwH, and the cost was £24.75. We arrived with a 44% charge and left with an 82% charge.
This meant we arrived at the Q-park at the Shambles in York with 56%, after a further hour and forty minutes.
The City of York
We had a range of 150 miles for the next leg of the journey to Whitby, which was less than 60 miles, so we didn't need to use the 22kW chargers in the car park, and there was still one of the two available.
However, the next day we were car-free as we explored York.
Charging an EV at a hotel
This was the ace up our sleeve.We wanted to take a scenic route to Whitby, but we also needed to arrive at a reasonable time, as we had only one night there. Our accommodation, the Royal Hotel in Whitby, had EV charging available, and you could reserve a space; all good so far.
We planned to stop at Castle Howard and Pickering before heading to Whitby via Hutton-le-Hole and Egton Bridge. A route I partially lifted from our Back Road Great Britain DK Eyewitness Travel Book (Route 18, if you're interested).
Our DK travel guide
However, it was a hot day, and we decided that a visit to Castle Howard would have to wait for another trip. We'd need at least two hours, and it'd be better spent in Whitby.
So, with that now stripped from our route, and the Google Maps Navigation system in the car indicating issues around Slingsby, we followed the A64 and diverted as soon as we drew near to Kirkham.
And this is when we 'discovered' Kirkham Priory.
Kirkham Abbey
This is what we love about our road trips: the unexpected. As much planning as we put in, there has to be room for spontaneity. We spend around 30 minutes exploring this idyllic spot.
Back on the road again, and our next stop is Pickering, described in our DK book as 'an excellent base for exploring the North Yorkshire Moors ...'. However, what interested us was the mention of frescoes in the Church of St Peter and St Paul.
Frescos in the church
Pickering is a pretty enough town, but we only had 26 miles until we reached Whitby, and the coast was calling.
I also knew I was going to be travelling across the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, and memories of 2003 came flooding back.
Polestar on the Moors
What a beautiful and peaceful place this is. A quick stop for some photos and to take in the landscape.
So now it's the last segment of this leg of the journey, and we have arrived at the Royal Hotel. We pull into the car park, and each bay has an A4 sheet with the registration and name. There are a couple of EV bays free, but neither has our name on it, and we can see our name on another space without a charger.
The hotel has an impressive bank of five chargers; however, three have been allocated to ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars. I make the executive decision to take one of the free charging bays, and I'll explain at reception.
They are 7kW chargers, the same as at home, operated by Voltshare, which is not affiliated with Electroverse. However, their use was simple enough, and this is also the case with the lower-powered AC chargers; I need to use my own cable.
Chat with a flustered receptionist done, it may take time to figure out these new-fangled electric cars. To be fair, the hotel is undergoing a major renovation, and the noise in the hotel lobby is challenging.
Now let's discover Whitby.
Whitby Brewery
Well, I have finished driving for the day.
There are so many beautiful regions to discover around the UK. From the delightful Kent coast in the southeast to the stunning Highlands of Scotland in the north. Discover them all via its beautiful back roads.
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EV touring as it should be
Well nearly...The Polestar's battery charged to 100% on the low 'n' slow 7kW Voltshare has cost £33.31 for 55.53 kWh, that's 60p per kWh. I've just experienced the EV version of the mini-bar: convenience comes at a price. I know I shouldn't compare, but I will, 55.53 kWh at home costs £3.88!
Still, we're ready to leave Whitby and take the very scenic route to Ripon.
Whitby Harbour
I'm pleased to see that the car allocated initially to this bay was an ICE model. No harm done then.
The direct route to Ripon is approximately 60 miles. Our route, however, appears to be over 90 miles, and we're heading up the coast to Staithes and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
Staithes
We will then head inland via Great Ayton and onto Mount Grace Priory. Another symbol of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the English Reformation. It seems Yorkshire is littered with them.
Mount Grace Priory
From here, we take the indirect route through Richmond, Letburn and Middleham, before finally arriving in Ripon. We arrive at around 4:30 pm with 65% charge.
In another first for us, we are booked into a Wetherspoons pub.
Polestar in front of the Unicorn
The location was perfect, with limited hotel parking available for free. However, the council-operated car park next to it charged £2.60 for 24 hours, plus there were six 22kW Connected Kerb chargers. So I plugged in and charged to 100% again (I should note that I usually follow the manufacturer's recommendation of charging to 90%, except when touring). That charge was £25.11 for 31.27 kWh, so a more reasonable cost of 43p per kWh.
Ripon Town Hall
Another day without the EV
And the shortest legThe next day was meant to be a rest day for the car, and on our drive to Harrogate, we planned to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens. However, over a refreshing drink at the 'Spoons, we decided to bring that forward, to allow more time for the scenic drive to Harrogate. The next day, we covered the 8 miles to and from Fountains Abbey.
Fountains Abbey
We were back at Ripon a little after 2:00 pm. Fountains Abbey took us longer than we expected, so we were pleased that we had adjusted our plans.
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The scenic EV drive across the Yorkshire Dales
So pleasant, but it's a shame it's a Sunday.This is always going to happen, we all know Sundays can be a bad day to go for a spin, especially through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
The direct route from Ripon to Harrogate is approximately 12 miles; our planned route is expected to cover around 120 miles. We have borrowed again from our DK guide, this time Route 17, and we added a stopover at Skipton, as we had a little more time, thanks to shifting the Fountains Abbey visit.
Fountains Abbey and the river
We were leaving with 97%, and heading indirectly to the Crowne Plaza in Harrogate. We could neither book parking nor their EV chargers. However, I didn't envisage that it would be a problem.
Apart from the traffic at times, and the one idiot in a new BMW who could not wait, so he tried to squeeze through a gap that didn't exist. A boy racer, an old codger; no, a guy in his late middle age who was either stupid, selfish, and arrogant, I think it was the latter.
Still, there was plenty of open road, stunning landscape and other road users who knew how to drive considerately.
And then there was the Ribblehead Viaduct—a feat of Victorian architecture that melts into the landscape. Sure, by now, the heatwave of the last few days had become a memory, and it was looking a touch changeable.
Ribblehead viaduct
Despite not many stops on the route, grey clouds and the odd wiper blade sweep, we were loving this leg. It was as I had planned. We were reminded that some of these smaller towns and villages, with Inns or hotels offering rooms, make an excellent stopover.
Polestar on the Dales
So our improvised stopover was Skipton. I had 'pencilled' it in initially, but it made the day too long, but now we had time, and guess what, there was a charger in town.
We pulled into the car park with 61%, but why not? It was an Osprey charger, rated at 50kW. The cable arrangement could have been better, but we got plugged in and away we went to explore Skipton.
Skipton
Sunday in Skipton was pleasant enough, so we decided to grab a little lunch, with a whole day in Harrogate tomorrow, we didn't need to rush.
After spending a little over an hour at Skipton, we headed back to the car. The car had taken on 33.28 kWh at a cost of £25.11, which included a discount from Electroverse. That worked out to be 75p per kWh, and the most expensive charge so far. It wasn't needed, but it was convenient.
Our plan had initially been to pop into Knaresborough too at the end of the day. However, another conversation over a drink in Ripon had pushed that out to our last day and the drive home. For us, it was the trip to Harrogate and our accommodation.
Harrogate
We arrived at Harrogate at around 3:00 pm with 90% charge, a good start for the run home via Knaresborough. There was one of the two EV bays available; in the other, a BMW i4 was happily charging away.
The final leg of our Yorkshire EV road trip
and the journey homeWe roll out of Harrogate at around 9:00 am, having been fed and watered. We've planned our stop at Knaresborough, and we've also decided to visit the village of Ripley. However, the weather gods have not smiled upon us today, and it's a little damp.
Knaresborough
We take a look, decide we like the place, and it's a pin for a future trip, maybe, the first as we head to Scotland in '26.
Now, the journey home. We have several aims; we know we're going to need to stop, for comfort and a recharge (actually, theoretically we could make it home, but the charge would be less than 5%, and I'm not that brave, and Janis certainly isn't), the other aim is to clear the Dartford crossing before 4:00 pm, after that. You have a window where the volume of traffic slows everyone's progress.
Our plan from the outset was to stop at Cambridge Services, where there are 24 Ionity chargers, either 350 or 200 kW. There's a mixture of food outlets and all the other facilities you'd expect.
After leaving Knaresborough at 9:40 am, we arrive at the Cambridge services with 32% at 12:30 and find ourselves an available charger, plug in and get charging (Our experience with Ionity chargers has always been good, both here and in France).
Polestar at Cambridge Services
We both pop into the services for that well-needed comfort break and dive into M&S for sandwiches, and end up with two meal deals, as well as the sandwiches, a snack, and a drink. There's a picnic table within 10 metres of the car, and we tuck into our sandwiches.
Now, we have a problem! It's one we had in France, the Polestar's charging too fast. Ideally, we want a charge of around 50-60%, and we're already at 70%. I could have set a charge limit before we started. With the Polestar, you can do that in 10% increments, from 40% to 100%. Why is that an issue? Well, I'm charging at 63p per kW (with the Electroverse discount), and that's a bargain for the speed. However, at home, it's 7p per kW. Oh well.
We head out from Cambridge Services with 78%, having taken on 40.19 kWh in a total of 24 minutes at a cost of £25.17, passing over the Dartford Bridge at around 2:00 pm before finally arriving home at 2:30 pm with 49%.
Polestar on the drive
I have reset the charge limit to our default of 90%, the Polestar-recommended limit, and plugged it into our Zappi charger. With our Octopus Intelligent Go tariff, if green energy is available on the grid, we receive a reduced rate on an adjusted schedule, and the car starts charging.
Our final charge is £2.67 for 38.15 kW. Let's see how this all adds up.
Our Yorkshire Road Trip in summary
The total costs, issues and experience versus the 'Norm'The distance travelled on our Yorkshire road trip was 758.10 miles, for £124.95, which works out to around £ 0.16 per mile. One observation is that it's more expensive than our two French Road Trips. The first trip to Normandy (688 miles) cost £0.11 per mile, and the 2,282-mile trip around a lot more of France cost £275.76, which worked out at £0.12 per mile. There is a widely held belief that public charging in the UK is too expensive, but I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Polestar in France
Then there were the cars: the Polestar 2, and our previous vehicles, mine being an Audi RS5 convertible and Janis's an Audi S3, both of which would have been used on road trips.
RS5 in Portugal
The RS5 had a realistic range of around 300 miles, and at today's prices, it costs around £0.30 per mile. Janis S3 fared much better, with a range of 375 and a cost of around £0.25 per mile. You may think I'm comparing apples to oranges, but the Polestar, in its dual-motor configuration, is a quick car, quicker than both the S3 and the RS5 in the 0-60 mph dash. The Polestar does it in 4.3s, 4.8s/4.7s respectively for the Audis. So the cost, compared to our old petrol cars, is quite a saving.
Polestar charging in France
The number of 'fuels' stops: the ICE cars win hands down here. Both ICE cars would have required three fuel stops.
We would have topped them up at the local petrol station the night before to ensure we had maximum range. That's a 20-minute round trip in all. On the journey to and from Yorkshire, we would have still had our comfort breaks, compared to the five charges we decided to make, it's fewer.
However, apart from our first failed charge at the Applegreen charger at the Welcome Break on the way up, all our other charges had been instigated in under a couple of minutes, and then we were free to head off and let the car do its thing.
Once you incorporate this into your planning and understand how it can work for you, EV charging can be truly pain-free.
So, how did our trip deviate from our original 'plan'? Strangely, it was very close; the original was 763 miles, and we covered 758. We did tweak some of the stopovers, but ultimately we visited the same destinations. One problem we did encounter, and one that needs to be addressed by Google is 'Waypoints'. In ABRP, you can add a start and finish, with stopovers en route, and also add waypoints.
A Better Route Planner
However, Google Maps only has start and end points with stopovers. On this type of trip, I want to take a specific route, not the quickest one between A and B. However, it's a navigation issue, not an EV-specific one.
One question you may have is, 'How do you have so much detail on your trip?'.
Well, the Polestar has a handy little app you can install on the car called 'Journey Log', and this captures a bunch of information each time the vehicles is driven that includes start and stop time, the address, the distance the consumption in kW, Odometer readings as well as start/stop state of charge.
All this information can be exported via email as a CSV or Excel file. In the app, you can also see your route; however, this is not exported, which is a shame. However, I have a GPS logger that plugs into one of the car's USB-C ports and allows me to export the trip as a GPX/KML file, and I push this into our Google MyMaps page of the trip
So with another successful trip completed, all that's left to do is unpack and upload.
The day after our trip, Janis heads off to the shops, safe in the knowledge that the car is charged to 90%.
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