Only 3% of EV drivers want to switch back to petrol or diesel

According to Zapmap, just 3% of UK EV drivers say they would consider returning to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The company’s annual survey explores industry trends and driver sentiment around EV ownership.

Environmental benefits remain the leading motivation, cited by 72% of respondents (in line with 2024 survey), while 70% highlight improved performance (up from 65% last year).

Satisfaction with public charging has also risen, with an average score of 69 out of 100, five points higher than in 2024.

Six in ten drivers believe public charging has improved over the past year, a view consistent with last year’s findings.

This uplift may reflect the expansion of infrastructure, with more than 13,000 additional charge points installed since October 2024, as well as improved reliability, with network rankings showing stronger performance in this area.

Home charging access has grown slightly, with 23% of drivers now able to charge at home compared to 21% last year.

This suggests more drivers without driveways are making the switch, supported by the rollout of near-home charging options, though the survey sample leans towards public network users.

Meanwhile, 49% of EV drivers continue to use the public network less than once a month.

Over half of this group (28%) only rely on public charging during specific periods, such as holidays or festive travel, indicating lower familiarity with regular network use.

Charging hubs have seen rapid growth in popularity, with usage more than doubling in three years — from 34% in 2022 to 70% in 2025.

Hubs have now overtaken motorway service areas as the most common charging location.

In fact, since the 2024 survey, 219 new hubs have been added to ZapMap’s database, bringing the UK total to 924.

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Jade Edwards, Head of Insights at Zapmap, said: “In the rapidly evolving public charging landscape, Zapmap’s EV driver survey provides valuable insights into their changing needs, providing actionable guidance for industry to meet and anticipate future demand.

“Comparing driver sentiment with more qualitative data on the size and shape of the charging infrastructure highlights how the industry is keeping pace with demand across different use cases.

“With over 1.7 million BEVs now on our roads, it’s good to see that satisfaction levels continue to rise. To ensure this trajectory continues as EVs move into the mainstream, we need to ensure that public and private sectors work in step to ensure equitable and affordable access to public charging.”