Are you planning on using the electric “sleeve” this summer?

The Channel, or La Manche as it is known in France, which charmingly translates to “the sleeve” is one of the busiest and most important stretches of water in Europe. From the UK side, travellers typically choose from a number of ports along the south coast including Dover, Portsmouth, Newhaven, Poole and Plymouth. Each offers routes into France and beyond, each with its own rhythm, operators and customer experience.

But this is no longer just about the journey. It is about how we travel, what we drive and increasingly how conscious we are of the impact that journey has.

Over the past few years I have had the privilege of working with more than one hundred teams taking electric vehicles across the Channel as part of the London to Brighton to Paris rally. Through Electra Connect and our Charge and Drive events, we have seen firsthand how the EV community plans, adapts and ultimately embraces the challenge of travelling further afield. Every trip is slightly different. Every team has a story. And every crossing brings its own set of considerations.

So I want to ask you, as part of the Everything Electric community, to think back. If you have taken your EV to the continent, what was your experience like? Was it seamless, or did it require a level of planning that petrol and diesel drivers rarely have to consider?

At the same time, the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to grow. The RAC estimates that there are now around 1.4 million EVs in circulation, and that number is only heading in one direction. With that growth comes a different type of traveller. EV drivers tend to be more conscious of efficiency, more engaged with data and more reliant on infrastructure that works reliably and predictably.

Which raises a simple question. Is the cross Channel experience keeping up?

Let us start with something very practical. How many UK ferry ports currently offer fast EV charging facilities for customers before boarding? The answer, quite remarkably, is none. Not one of the main departure points along the south coast currently provides dedicated fast charging infrastructure at the terminal itself.

For a community that is used to planning journeys around charging stops, that is a significant gap. It means drivers are forced to rely on nearby public charging networks, often adding time, uncertainty and in some cases stress to what should be the beginning of a holiday.

Then there is the question of transparency. When you book a ferry ticket with operators such as Brittany Ferries, P&O, DFDS or Irish Ferries, how much information do you receive about the environmental impact of your crossing? Specifically, how much CO₂ is generated per journey?

A recent report published in March 2026 underlines just how realistic the shift towards electric ferries has become, with more than half of EU vessels identified as suitable for electrification by 2035 and around 20 percent already capable of operating more cost effectively than fossil fuel alternatives as early as 2025. What makes this particularly relevant to everyday crossings like those between the UK and France is that ferries spend over 60 percent of their time within five nautical miles of ports, meaning their impact is felt most in densely populated coastal areas where air quality matters most. The sector currently produces 15.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, yet the predictable nature of ferry routes makes them one of the most viable parts of the maritime industry to electrify. The challenge is less about technology and more about infrastructure and policy, with the report highlighting that 57 percent of ports would only require relatively modest charging capacity, alongside clearer regulatory support, to unlock this transition. In short, the tools and evidence are already there, and the conversation is no longer about if ferries can be electrified, but how quickly that shift can be delivered.

Again, the answer is none. There is no clear, customer facing data at the point of sale that tells you the carbon footprint of your trip. For EV drivers, who are already familiar with concepts like miles per kilowatt hour, battery efficiency and energy consumption, this feels like a missing piece of the puzzle.

Instead, what you often encounter is an additional charge labelled as an ETS surcharge. This refers to the EU Emissions Trading System, designed to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the intention behind the scheme is understandable, from a customer perspective it feels like a blunt instrument. You are asked to pay the surcharge, but you are not given the underlying data that explains your own impact.

In an age where data drives decision making, that feels like an opportunity missed. We know our numbers when we drive. We should be able to know our numbers when we sail.

Another obvious consideration is onboard charging. Once you are on the ferry, surrounded by vehicles and effectively stationary for several hours, it seems like the perfect opportunity to recharge. Yet how many of the major ferry operators currently allow drivers to charge their electric vehicles during the crossing?

The answer is just one route and one operator – the P&O Liberty vessels who offer AC and DC charging for free from Dover to Calais. That’s it.

And what about incentives? How many ferry companies offer reduced fares or special tariffs for electric vehicles as part of a broader commitment to sustainability?

None.

When you lay it out like this, it becomes clear that while the automotive sector has moved rapidly towards electrification, the maritime experience for everyday travellers has not yet caught up.

Let us bring this into focus with a specific example that many of us in the south east know well. The Newhaven to Dieppe route.

This is a crossing with history. For over two hundred years it has linked Sussex with Normandy, serving as a vital connection for trade, tourism and cultural exchange. In recent years, it has also been one of the routes to bounce back most strongly following the disruptions of Brexit and Covid.

It was also the chosen route for the first London to Paris EV rally in 2023, a journey that brought together a diverse group of drivers all united by a shared belief in electric mobility.

And yet, even here, the challenges are evident.

At the Newhaven terminal itself, there are currently no EV charging facilities available for customers. None. For drivers arriving with lower battery levels or those who simply want the reassurance of topping up before boarding, that is a glaring omission.

Within a five mile radius, there are charging options available, as identified by various EV charging apps, but that is not the same as having integrated, on site infrastructure that forms part of a seamless travel experience.

Then there is the booking process. If you visit the DFDS website and book a ticket for your vehicle, you will not find any clear information about the carbon emissions associated with your journey. You will see the ETS surcharge, but not the underlying figures that would allow you to make an informed comparison or simply understand your impact.

If you are prepared to dig deeper, the data does exist. The International Maritime Organisation provides detailed information on vessel emissions. For the Newhaven to Dieppe route, the two ferries in operation, the Seven Sisters and the Cote D’Albatre, have recorded emissions of 723.61 grams of CO₂ equivalent per nautical mile per passenger and 831.9 grams of CO₂ equivalent per nautical mile per passenger respectively.

That is precise, technical data. But it is not presented in a way that is accessible or meaningful to the average traveller.

Let us translate that into something more tangible. The crossing between Newhaven and Dieppe is approximately 81 nautical miles. When you apply those emission figures, the CO₂ generated per passenger in your car for a single crossing comes out at between 58 kilograms and 67 kilograms.

To put that into perspective, that is close to three quarters of the average UK body weight being transported across the Channel in emissions alone, per person, per journey.

For an EV driver, someone who is already thinking in terms of efficiency, energy use and environmental impact, that is a significant figure. It is exactly the kind of information that could influence behaviour, encourage offsetting or simply deepen understanding.

And yet it is not readily available at the point where it matters most.

It is important to say that this experience is not unique to the Newhaven to Dieppe route. Across the Channel, regardless of which port or operator you choose, the situation is broadly the same. We are, quite literally, all in the same boat.

So where does that leave us?

From my perspective, having seen the growth of the EV community up close and having worked with drivers who are willing to go further, think harder and plan smarter, there is a clear opportunity here.

Ferry operators such as DFDS, P&O, Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries are serving a customer base that is evolving. EV drivers are not a niche group anymore. They represent a growing, increasingly influential segment of the market. They are data savvy. They value efficiency. They are conscious of their environmental impact. And they are prepared to make choices based on those factors.

So is it time for a more joined up, more considered approach to what we might call the electric Manche experience?

Could we see investment in fast charging infrastructure at ports, allowing drivers to begin their journey with confidence?

Could operators provide clear, transparent emissions data at the point of booking, empowering customers to understand and engage with their impact?

Could onboard charging become part of the offering, turning travel time into charging time and improving overall efficiency?

And perhaps most interestingly, could ferry companies introduce dedicated EV tariffs, incentivising lower emission travel and aligning their pricing structures with broader climate commitments?

These are not radical ideas. In many ways, they are the natural next step in a transport ecosystem that is already undergoing significant change.

As someone who has been involved in the EV journey since its earlier days, and as the founder of the London to Brighton EV rally, I have seen how quickly things can move when the right pieces fall into place. What feels like a challenge today can become standard practice tomorrow.

The question is whether the Channel crossing experience is ready to evolve in the same way.

So I will leave you with this.

If you are planning to take your EV across the Channel this summer, what do you expect from that journey? What would make it easier, more efficient, more aligned with the way you already drive day to day?

And for those of you who have already made the trip, what worked, what did not and what would you like to see change?

Because if there is one thing we have learned from the past few years, it is that the collective voice of the EV community matters.

Does the English Channel need electrifying?

I think we all know the answer.

Written by Bill Murray and researched by Graham Precey

About the author

Bill Murray is a broadcast journalist with over 14 years experience in the sector. Back in 2022, Bill and fellow EV blood hound Harrison Hughes founded Electra Connect to accelerate the transition to electric mobility. Their partnership has driven the creation of major industry events, including the Powered Up Conference, the London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally, and the Charge & Drive series. Alongside events, Electra Connect provides PR and consultancy services to industry leaders, ensuring businesses pioneering sustainable transport receive the strategic support and visibility they need. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Bill and Harrison continue to shape the EV landscape across the UK.