Drivers are more willing to switch to an electric vehicle, but mixed government policy risks slowing the transition, a quarterly report suggests.
The overall EV readiness score has risen to 53.8 in the three months to February, the comprehensive AA index shows. This compares to 48.8 and 47.5 recorded in the same periods previous.
A rise in willingness to switch to EV comes thanks to improving affordability in the used market and gradual progress on key consumer barriers.
But 'the transition remains fragile' due to uncertainty around future taxes such as pay-per-mile road tax.
The AA warns mixed messages from government policy risk undermining the longer-term health of the market, particularly, for fleets and manufacturers who underpin new EV sales.
AA UK EV Readiness Index rises but mixed policy signals risk slowing transition. Falling price of used EVs increases readiness but eVED is putting people off
The AA's quarterly index tracks eight indicators influencing drivers’ readiness to switch to electric vehicles, combining them into a single readiness rating measuring how practical and attractive EV ownership is for motorists today.
Key factors include used EV prices, charging trends, confidence gap, and policy clarity.
While conditions improved during the quarter, the Index highlights that the market is still in transition rather than at the point of mass adoption.
The issue is that the improvement is being driven by falling used EV prices rather than strong consumer demand.
The used EV market has seen prices drop below the cost of equivalent petrol prices for the first time since the Index launched in September 2025.
Used EVs were 10 per cent cheaper than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles during the quarter.
The availability of lower-priced vehicles – particularly from ex-fleet supply entering the market – has created new opportunities for motorists considering switching to electric.
However, the AA cautions that rapid depreciation presents a significant challenge for fleets and manufacturers, which rely on strong residual values to support new vehicle sales and leasing models.
Charging score also increased to 43 compared to 40 in the last three months of 2025 which has been helped by the increase to 118,321 public chargers - around 39.4 per cent of the Government's 2030 target of 300,000 chargers.
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Running out of charge accounted for just 1.5 per cent of callouts, a dramatic fall from historic levels and evidence that range anxiety is gradually receding.
But there is still a big confidence gap that needs to be plugged if drivers are going to buy used EVs.
A poll of more than 12,000 AA members found just three per cent are confident buying used EVs.
Research suggests that better information and clearer reassurance on battery health and reliability is critical to unlocking demand.
The most pressing problem though is the need for policy clarity from the government, especially around eVED which will see EV owners pay a so-called 'modest' 3p charge per mile they drive.
This is on top of the £195-a-year VED rate electric car drivers now have to pay since April this year.
Fifty-five per cent of the 12,000 drivers polled said the prospect of eVED may put them off buying a new or used EV.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: 'Mixed messages from government – including uncertainty around future taxes such as eVED – risk denting confidence just as the market is beginning to mature from the early adopters.
'To keep momentum going we need clearer long-term policy signals and better information for drivers so they can make an informed choice when or whether to switch.'
Context:
EV readiness score rose to 53.8 as used electric cars became 10% cheaper than petrol equivalents.
Context:
Mixed government policies like pay-per-mile taxes threaten to slow EV adoption just as momentum builds.
Context:
Only 3% of drivers feel confident buying used EVs, highlighting need for better battery health information.