75% of EV drivers say high charging costs are a major barrier to widespread adoption, EVA England urges action

• 75% of EV drivers say high charging costs, misinformation, and expensive upfront prices are barriers to adoption.
• EVA England suggests expanding salary sacrifice schemes, offering affordable EV options for low-income households, and improving accessibility.
• The report coincides with the government’s review of the ZEV Mandate to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

EVA England recommends government action to overcome high charging costs and boost EV uptake in the UK

EVA England reports that 75% of EV drivers believe high public charging costs are the biggest barrier to EV adoption. This concern is compounded by misinformation about EVs and the high upfront costs compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars.

Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive of EVA England, 

“We urge the Government to take note of our findings. They are informed by the most important people in this debate – the drivers themselves. Whilst we continue to see very high levels of satisfaction from EV drivers who have made the switch from petrol and diesel, there are still significant barriers to wider uptake. Action is needed to tackle the triple effect of high public charging costs, the constant drip feed of anti-EV misinformation from vested interests and the high initial costs of EV purchase. In addition, we urge the Government to consider a raft of other measures that can, in combination and over time, help ensure that demand for EVs continues to grow at the required pace to help meet the country’s climate targets.”

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Despite these challenges, EV owners report high satisfaction with their vehicles, and growth in EV adoption has been significant. There are now over 1 million EVs on UK roads, up from just 1,500 in 2010.

In response to these concerns, EVA England has submitted 14 recommendations to the government. These include expanding workplace ‘salary sacrifice’ schemes and introducing programs to make EVs more affordable for low-income households. They also suggest simplifying the installation of cross-pavement charging points and ensuring accessibility for disabled drivers.

The report comes at a crucial time, as the government is reviewing its ZEV Mandate. The Mandate is ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. As the transition to EVs continues, these recommendations could help ensure that the country meets its climate targets and that more drivers can make the switch to electric.