Majority of EV drivers make savings after switching to electric

The latest EVA England EV Driver Survey has revealed that 94% of EV drivers said their running costs are lower than when they drove a petrol or diesel car.

Further analysis shows that 88% of EV drivers surveyed can charge using their own electricity supply, underlining the importance of access to home charging.

However, there are still barriers to growing the EV market in the UK.

Among motorists with off-street home charging, 84% reported substantially lower running costs, compared with just 32% of those unable to charge at home.

Some 52% of EV drivers surveyed paid more for their EV than they would have for a comparable petrol or diesel car, while 41% of petrol and diesel drivers identified the purchase price as a key obstacle to switching.

For those who have already made the switch, confidence in the public charging network also appears to be weakening. The 2026 survey of 2,635 drivers found that 48% said public charging had improved, down from 69% in the previous year's survey. Also 42% said public charging costs had increased over the past year.

Only 5% of those surveyed believed that recent Government announcements regarding the future of EVs in the UK had increased their confidence in the industry.

EVA England CEO, Dr Vicky Edmonds, said: “Electric cars work. The people driving them are saving money, they love their cars, and most wouldn’t dream of going back.

“But there’s a huge catch: right now, the biggest savings are still overwhelmingly going to people who have a driveway and can charge cheaply at home.

“Imagine being told you could save hundreds of pounds a year by switching to electric, only to discover that because you live in a flat or don’t have a driveway, charging your car could cost you more than petrol.

“Or that you simply can’t afford the car in the first place. That’s not fair, and it’s a huge missed opportunity.”

Despite the drop in confidence in the wider industry, almost half of the petrol and diesel drivers surveyed said they would be likely to switch to an EV if these issues were addressed.

• Electric Car Grant – what is it and which EVs get discounts?
• Types of electric vehicles
• How to drive an EV

A recent announcement that aims to remove planning requirements is aiming to help with the switch to electric.

The Government has slashed red tape to make it cheaper, easier, and quicker to install charging at home without a driveway.

Drivers will no longer need planning permission to install cross-pavement EV charging channels, which allow charging cables to run safely beneath the pavement from a home to a parked car.

According to the Government, the change could save motorists up to £300 in installation costs and provide access to home charging from as little as 2p per mile.

Planning changes will also make it quicker and cheaper for operators to install larger, high-powered public charging hubs.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Slashing red tape and making it cheaper and easier to install cross-pavement chargers or EV gullies for EV owners that don’t have a driveway is a much-needed step in the right direction to make charging fairer and accessible for all.

“Charging at home is significantly cheaper than using public charging points, which remain subject to 20% VAT unlike home rates which are currently benefiting from zero tax rates.

“But while all this sounds good on paper, it’s important to remember that for the millions of households in the UK that don’t have driveways, the reality is that there is of course no guarantee of being able to park in front of their own home within reach of their charging cable.

“And while the requirement for planning permission has been scrapped, residents will still need authorisation from their council, who will consider aspects like underground utilities, making sure that an EV gully doesn't interfere with gas, electricity, water or telecoms infrastructure, as well as ensuring that it isn't a hindrance to others.

“So, while the Government's announcement does make life easier for some EV owners, it's not a silver bullet.

“To make EV charging cheaper for those that don’t have a driveway, the Government should also be minded to cut VAT on public charging to match home rates. While this won’t make public charging as cheap as home charging, it will go some way in bringing down costs for those forced to rely on public chargers.

“Following the surge in fuel prices off the back of the US/Iran war and the Ukraine war, more people are wanting to switch to electric. The Government has a real opportunity to supercharge this by making EV charging more accessible for those that don’t have a driveway.”