Drivers demonstrate growing enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs), with the overall EV readiness score reaching 53.8 in the three months ending February. This marks an increase from 48.8 and 47.5 in the corresponding prior periods.
Boost from Affordable Used EVs
Affordability in the used EV market improves significantly, driving this uptick alongside progress on major consumer hurdles. Used EV prices fall below equivalent petrol vehicle costs for the first time since September 2025, trading at 10 percent less during the quarter. Lower-priced options, especially from ex-fleet supplies, open doors for potential switchers.
Yet rapid depreciation poses risks for fleets and manufacturers, which depend on solid residual values for new sales and leasing.
Charging Infrastructure Advances
The charging score rises to 43 from 40 in late 2025, supported by 118,321 public chargers—39.4 percent toward the 2030 goal of 300,000. Range anxiety eases, with out-of-charge callouts dropping to just 1.5 percent.
Persistent Confidence and Policy Gaps
Despite gains, mass adoption lags. Improvements hinge on declining used prices rather than robust demand. A survey of over 12,000 drivers reveals only 3 percent feel confident purchasing used EVs, underscoring needs for better battery health data and reliability assurances.
Policy uncertainty emerges as the top concern, particularly the electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), imposing a modest 3p per mile on top of the £195 annual VED for EV owners since April. Fifty-five percent of polled drivers indicate eVED could deter them from buying new or used EVs.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, stated: ‘Mixed messages from government—including uncertainty around future taxes such as eVED—risk denting confidence just as the market begins to mature beyond early adopters. To sustain momentum, clearer long-term policy signals and enhanced driver information are essential for informed switching decisions.’
The index evaluates eight indicators—used EV prices, charging trends, confidence levels, and policy clarity—to gauge EV practicality and appeal for motorists.
