The real barriers and benefits of going electric. Insights from 5,000 UK electric vehicle drivers.

Are electric vehicles the future? Here’s what UK drivers think.

Every day, we see more and more electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads. But not everyone is sold on them yet. What's really stopping people from switching?

To find out, E.ON Next surveyed nearly 5,000 UK drivers. That included EV owners, potential buyers, and the sceptics. We got some valuable insights into what motivates drivers, their concerns, the barriers that are slowing the UK’s transition to electric driving – and most importantly, how we can help sort things out.

What’s holding people back from going electric?

Even with all the buzz around EVs and the benefits of driving one, drivers still have some common concerns. Our EV survey identified the top four barriers that prevent people from taking the plunge and buying an electric car. (Fortunately, a lot of those hurdles can easily be overcome.)

Cost (59%).

The upfront price of EVs remains the biggest barrier. However, with lower running costs and lower price models beginning to hit the market, it could be a lot more affordable than you might think. Plus, with EV tariffs, like Next Drive, electric vehicle owners can fully charge their EV from £3.^

Battery longevity (32%).

Many drivers worry about the battery wearing out over time. But actually, modern EV batteries are designed to last over 10 years, with most manufacturers offering extensive warranties.

Lack of public charging infrastructure (28%).

While access to charging points is a concern, the UK continues to expand its charging network. With 35,000 public EV charging locations around the UK, it’s now easier than ever to find somewhere to charge your EV.

Range anxiety (28%).

Many potential EV buyers worry about running out of charge on long journeys. However, new EVs have significantly improved range, and the increasing number of public rapid chargers makes long-distance travel easier than ever. You may not know, but 95% of car journeys in the UK are less than 25 miles. That’s no distance at all for most EVs, which usually have a typical range of between 150-300 miles.

The biggest reasons people like EVs.

The good news is… there’s a lot of good news about driving an EV! When we asked drivers what they like about EVs, our respondents zoned in on three key factors:

Saving money on fuel (88%).

With rising fuel costs, switching to an EV offers long-term savings. Charging at home, especially with a dedicated time of use EV tariff, can dramatically reduce fuel expenses.

Lower maintenance costs (84%).

EVs have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel cars, which means fewer things to go wrong and lower servicing costs over time.

A smooth driving experience (79%).

From speedy acceleration to quiet operation, EVs provide a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience for many.

It’s no surprise that EV cost savings top the list. However, our research also found that sustainability benefits, innovative technology, and financial incentives are also important to drivers when they think about EVs.

The hidden challenge: low awareness of EV tariffs.

One of our survey’s most striking findings was that not many people know about dedicated EV tariffs. Only 34% of potential EV buyers are aware they can get a specialised tariff. And perhaps more surprisingly, only 49% of existing EV owners knew about home energy plans designed to reduce EV charging costs. That means that half of the EV drivers we surveyed didn’t realise they could charge their car for less if they got a tariff made for EV charging.

Specialised EV tariffs, like E.ON Next Drive, help EV drivers save money by offering cheaper overnight electricity rates.^

By increasing awareness of these solutions, we could make EV ownership even more attractive and accessible.

Why EV ownership is easier.

Our own Head of Product Solutions & EV, Sean Keily, summed this up perfectly.

"It's clear that people have an appetite for electric vehicles, the main attractions being the running costs and driving experience. And although costs and battery costs remain, the lower-than-expected concerns about public charging infrastructure indicate growing confidence in the UK’s EV ecosystem.

“But to fully unlock the potential of EVs for our customers, we need to make them aware of dedicated EV tariffs which offer affordable home EV charging. That’s why we're committed to providing clear information and affordable solutions, so more drivers will be happy to make the switch to electric.

“As we’ve already said, growing confidence is no doubt also due to a growing awareness. And we want to help make potential EV drivers more aware of how easy it is to buy and run one. As more drivers discover all the benefits of electric vehicles and affordable home charging, the road to an EV future looks brighter than ever before.”

EV survey results tables.

Here are the questions - and answers - we asked in our survey.

EV features.

Appeal of EV features: How appealing are these EV features? How important were each of these features in encouraging you to switch to EVs?

Barriers to getting an EV.

What factors have stopped you from getting an EV until now? Which of these factors were barriers to you getting an EV before you bought one, if any?

• ^ £3 calculated as charging an electric vehicle battery of 40kWh at 7.5p/kWh. Off-peak rate available between 12am - 6am on the Next Drive tariff. Direct Debit only. Smart meter with half hourly consent required. Actual costs may vary depending on vehicle battery size and charging efficiency.