More than half of young people want their first car to be an EV
Consumer Editor
The majority of young drivers want their first car to be electric, according to a new study.
The research, commissioned by E.ON Next, spoke with 1,500 drivers aged 17 to 20 about their next vehicle purchase.
More than half (55%) want their next car to be electric, while almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed stated that owning a petrol car is ‘as outdated as using a landline telephone’.
Young drivers are increasingly attracted to electric vehicles, with lower running costs among the biggest reasons for making the switch.
In fact, 20% cited day-to-day affordability as a key benefit, while 56% believe owning an electric vehicle (EV) saves money.
Nearly one in five (19%) believe that the ability to charge at home was appealing, while 18% like the idea of avoiding regular trips to a fuel forecourt.
Furthermore, around 21% say they cannot imagine ever owning a petrol car, while 63% believe petrol and diesel vehicles will disappear within their lifetime. Around half (53%) believe they will be the last generation to routinely drive combustion-engine vehicles.
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The E.ON Next research reflects the latest car buying trends in the UK, with industry data showing a clear rise in electric car sales.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) account for 26% of all new cars registered in the UK from January to August, a 29% increase on the same period in 2025, with over 355,000 new EVs sold.
EVs continued to gain ground in the UK during August 2026 within the new car market, as registrations rose by 27.7% compared to the same point last year.
Petrol cars make up 42% of new car registrations, while diesel accounts for fewer than 5% of all new cars.
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