Britons travelling on five motorways could be forced to queue for ages with demand for electric vehicle plugs set to soar. 

The M1, M5, M6, M60 and M25 are all tipped to be hit by severe traffic on the last weekend before Christmas with electric car owners likely most affected. 

The mass exodus to spend the holidays with family means EV chargers located at motorway service stations are set to be busier than ever. 

With close to 300,000 new EV drivers on the roads this year, motorists will all be battling for the bays. 

Nearly half (between 48–55%) of the 114 motorway service stations in the UK have six or more 150kW+ electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

This is up from 2022 when Tesla owners were snapped queuing for hours until a plug became free.

However, motorists have still been urged to look outside the main thoroughfare if they need to top up. 

Several charging bays are located just minutes from the motorway which may be more easily accessible at peak times.

Adrian Fielden-Gray, COO of Be.EV said: “If you’re a new EV driver this Christmas, charging queues should be the least of your worries. 

“Rather than having to wait at a service station, a small shift in how you charge your vehicle can save you a lot of time and frustration. 

“Huge numbers of supermarkets, restaurants and retail parks now have EV charging in their car parks – all just minutes from the motorway, making it more convenient than ever to charge up.

“They’re quieter, faster, and just as convenient, and have the added benefit of allowing you to do any last-minute present shopping, grab any forgotten food and drink for Christmas dinner, or simply grab a coffee whilst you wait.”

Around 24 Tesla owners were left waiting for chargers at a Waitrose car park in South Mimms while there were also delays at Tebay services in Cumbria.

It is expected that 16million cars will take to the roads on December 23 and Christmas Eve.

Full list of alternative charging bays 

M60: 

• Sale Water Park, Rifle Road, Sale, M33 2LX
• Decathlon Stockport, George’s Road, Decathlon, Stockport, SK4 1DN
• White City Retail Park, Chester Road, Manchester, M16 0RP

M25: 

• EV Waitrose Cobham, 16 Oakdene Road, Cobham, South East, KT11 1AF
• Shell Chiswell, 551 Watford Road, St Albans, AL2 3EH
• Epping Forest Cornmill, Cornmill Car Park, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1RB
• Tesco Extra Lakeside, Cygnet View, Lakeside West Thurrock, Grays, RM20 1TX
• Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock Way, Essex, Grays, RM20 2ZP
• Miller & Carter Sevenoaks, Amherst Hill, Sevenoaks, TN13 2EN
• Viewpoint Car Park Wray Lane, Wray Lane, Reigate, RH2 0HX

M6: 

• NEC East Car Park 3, East Car Park Road (I), Birmingham, Solihull, B40 1PW
• Birchley Island, Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, Sandwell, B69 4RJ
• Holiday Inn Birmingham, Birmingham, B43 7BG
• IMO Carlisle, London Road, Carlisle, CA1 2PD

M1: 

• McDonald’s Meridian Way, Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1WZ
• Sainsbury’s Fosse Park, Grove Farm Triangle, Enderby, Leicester,  LE19 1WT
• Victoria Street Car Park, Victoria Street Car Park, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 7AP
• Hickory’s Smokehouse, Upminster Drive, Nuthall, Nottingham, NG16 1PT
• IMO Alfreton, Nottingham Road, Alfreton, DE55 4JJ
• Sheffield Parkway Central Retail Park, Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield Parkway, Sheffield, S2 5AU