Hike in EV interest following Middle East bombing

As fuel prices spike in the wake of the Middle East crisis Autotrader has seen a sharp rise in interest in EVs, with used EVs now taking 19.5% of all 0–5yr used car leads on its marketplace – the highest share on record, with new daily records being set.

Autotrader reported new car EV leads are up 28% in less than a month, and used (0–5yr) EV leads up 15%, at a time when EVs account for just 5% of all cars on the road.

Ian Plummer, Chief Customer Officer, Autotrader said: “ Even though petrol prices aren’t anywhere near the extremes of 2022 yet, the Iran conflict has clearly moved fuel costs to the front of buyers’ minds. Our data shows a sharp rise in both new and used EV leads since the war began at the end of February.”

“This isn’t just about price, it’s about confidence. When people feel that traditional fuel is vulnerable to global events, the appeal of electric becomes far stronger so the conflict is acting as a significant catalyst for EV interest across the UK market. That said, previous peaks in interest like in 2022 haven’t led to sustained increases in electric purchases, so there is still work to do to ensure consumers are confident that electric cars can fit their lifestyles.”

Skills gap

The surging interest about future energy security/instability/price shocks is triggering behavioural change in the consumer market, at the same time as the UK government has unveiled a £1 billion funding package to help businesses transition to electric vans and trucks.

While welcoming the boost this package will give to the EV market, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has warned that the UK’s critical EV skills gap risks slowing progress.

The latest IMI TechSafe data reveals that only one in four UK technicians are currently qualified to work on EVs, raising concerns about the sector’s readiness to support growing EV adoption. Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI, said: “This investment is a very positive step and will help remove some of the financial barriers for businesses looking to electrify their fleets. However, funding vehicles and infrastructure is only part of the solution. Without the skilled workforce to maintain, repair and safely handle these vehicles, particularly high-voltage systems and batteries, the transition risks being constrained.

“We cannot afford a mismatch between the number of EVs on the road and the number of qualified technicians able to support them. Targeted government support for training and upskilling is essential to ensure the UK has the capability, confidence and safety standards needed to deliver net zero.”