Electric car owners overwhelmingly believe their switch to electric vehicles has reduced their driving costs, according to a survey by the Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA). Fully 94 percent of respondents reported lower costs compared to petrol or diesel cars, with 93 percent planning to purchase another EV and the same percentage saying they would recommend electric cars to others.
Confidence and Charging Challenges
However, 38 percent of drivers expressed reduced confidence in EV ownership following recent government policy changes, particularly regarding UK sales targets and pay-per-mile road charging discussions. Only 5 percent felt their confidence had improved, highlighting ongoing uncertainty in the sector.
The survey revealed significant disparities between drivers with private off-street charging and those reliant on public networks. Eighty-eight percent of respondents charged their vehicles using their own electricity supply, allowing access to cheaper tariffs and domestic VAT rates. In contrast, just 48 percent of public charger users believed the network had improved over the past year, a decline from 69 percent the previous year.
Charging costs remain a concern, with 42 percent reporting increased expenses in the past year. Additionally, 44 percent of EV drivers who encountered issues with public chargers were unable to report them, showing infrastructure reliability problems.
Upfront Costs and Government Support
While operating costs are favorable, 52 percent of EV owners still paid more upfront than they would have for a petrol or diesel vehicle. Meanwhile, 41 percent of conventional car owners cited high purchase prices as a barrier to switching to electric.
The government’s Electric Car Grant scheme, offering up to £3,750 off eligible models, has not fully addressed affordability concerns. Dr. Vicky Edmonds, EVA England’s CEO, emphasized that savings are concentrated among drivers with private charging access, leaving those in flats or without driveways at a disadvantage.
“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,” Dr. Edmonds said.
Policy Calls and Future Outlook
EVA England is advocating for government action to enhance affordability, including lower-cost leasing options for low-income households and reduced public charging fees. Dr. Edmonds stressed the need to prioritize practical solutions over targets: “We need to stop arguing about targets and start making it easier for people to choose electric. That means bringing down the cost of cars and charging, making the public network work properly, and giving drivers confidence that going electric is the right decision for them and their families.”
