For many drivers considering the switch to electric, the key question is simple. Will it cost less to run?
The answer is increasingly yes. New analysis from char.gy shows that £20 of electricity can now power an electric vehicle significantly further than £20 of petrol.
Using char.gy’s overnight tariff, £20 of electricity can deliver around 150 to 200 miles of driving. By comparison, the same £20 spent on petrol typically delivers around 120 miles in a conventional petrol car.
For the average UK driver, that difference is meaningful. An overnight charge can cover around seven to 10 days of typical driving. A £20 petrol fill would cover closer to six days.
Running costs have always been one of the most important factors shaping drivers’ decisions. Our research with YouGov shows that affordable charging remains the single biggest trigger for EV adoption.
Nearly two thirds of non-EV drivers say lower charging costs would persuade them to switch. Among drivers already considering an electric car, that rises to 78% for short term considerers and 76% for those thinking about switching in the longer term.
This is why the current debate around road pricing matters.
Electric vehicles already offer a clear cost advantage for many drivers. As policymakers consider new approaches to road pricing, protecting that advantage will be essential to maintaining confidence in the transition.
Toby Poston, BVRLA Chief Executive agrees with char.gy explaining that running costs are the biggest motivator for the thousands of fleets and businesses that are leading the transition to electric cars. Measures that close the gap between EV and ICE vehicles will deter drivers from going electric and stall that momentum.
“The financial benefits are clear for many use cases. We need to see policy embrace that, not penalise those to be playing their part in achieving a cleaner, greener road network.”
Affordable charging is helping drivers move away from petrol and diesel. Ensuring that cost benefit remains in place will help more people make the switch.
John Lewis is char.gy CEO.
