EV drivers far more satisfied than fuel motorists expect

New research from Octopus Energy and Autotrader suggests the biggest barrier to electric vehicle adoption is no longer infrastructure or performance, but perception.

The survey, conducted by Octopus Electroverse and Autotrader, highlights a significant gap between what petrol and diesel drivers believe about electric vehicles and the experiences reported by existing EV owners.

According to the findings, 85% of EV drivers say they are satisfied with their vehicle, with almost half describing themselves as “extremely satisfied”. In comparison, only 31% of fuel drivers believe they would feel the same about switching to electric.

The research found fuel drivers remain concerned about costs, charging and reliability despite growing evidence that EV ownership is becoming cheaper and more convenient. Petrol and diesel motorists were nearly nine times more likely to believe EVs are more expensive to maintain and eight times more likely to think day-to-day running costs are higher.

In practice, EV owners reported saving an average of £860 a year by charging at home using specialist tariffs. The findings also come as Autotrader data shows new electric vehicles are now, on average, cheaper than petrol cars once discounts and government incentives are included.

Charging infrastructure also appears to be less of a concern for current EV drivers than prospective buyers expect. While more than half of fuel drivers anticipated home charging would be inconvenient, 87% of EV owners who charge at home described the experience as easy and convenient.

Public charging perceptions also differed sharply from reality. Two-thirds of EV drivers said public chargers were easy to locate and quick to use, with the UK’s charging network now surpassing 111,000 installed charge points nationwide.

The research comes amid rising fuel prices and growing interest in electrification. Octopus said its EV leasing sales increased by 89% in the month following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, as motorists looked for alternatives to rising petrol and diesel costs.

Matt Davies, founder and director of Electroverse at Octopus Energy, said misinformation remained one of the biggest obstacles to wider EV adoption.

“The biggest barrier to EV adoption today isn’t infrastructure or performance, it’s a lack of information,” he said.

“Many petrol and diesel drivers think EVs are complicated and expensive, but in reality thousands of EV owners say they’re reliable, cheaper to run, and a joy to drive.

“The driver conversations and data show that it’s getting behind the wheel that really counts: anyone who’s curious should jump in and experience the benefits first hand.”

Erin Baker, editorial director at Autotrader, said the research demonstrated the scale of the perception gap facing the industry.

“Electric vehicles are a once-in-a-generation technology shift which is exciting and intimidating all at once,” she said.

“We know EV drivers love their cars and the driving and ownership experiences they bring, but many who haven’t made the switch yet still have concerns. This new data shows a big perception versus reality problem and so we’re delighted to join Octopus Electroverse to shout about the EV glow and empower more drivers to electrify their driving.”

Octopus Electroverse said it now connects more than one million drivers with over 1.4 million charge points across 50 countries as it continues to expand its public charging network across the UK and Europe.