Driver appetite for electric vehicles remains high as more motorists favour high performance and price points as key reasons to steer away from petrol and diesel cars.
It comes after a report revealed that more than one in two drivers rely on the public charging network for their electric vehicle, highlighting the growing importance of investment into the infrastructure.
The survey found that 51 per cent of drivers use the public network roughly once a month. In the past year, the charging network has increased by 38 per cent due to more demand as drivers switch away from petrol and diesel fuel types.
The survey also found that while 79 per cent of motorists have a dedicated home charger, many drivers still rely on public charging points, particularly in motorway service stations with 58 per cent of drivers using them.
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Almost nine in 10 drivers who are unlikely to switch back to petrol or diesel cars
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Jade Edwards, head of insights at Zapmap, explained: “The UK’s public charging network is evolving rapidly to meet the needs of an ever-growing number of EV drivers, and this survey highlights the pivotal shifts shaping the future of mobility and charging.
“With motorway services and EV charging hubs now dominating as the most popular charging locations, our survey data shows how driver preferences are aligned with infrastructure investment.”
She added that the report identified how EV drivers are reporting an increase in satisfaction with the charging infrastructure, although there needs to be further improvement.
“It is more important than ever for reliable, accessible, and efficient charging options to be available in the right locations to support this transformation,” she warned.
The use of EV charging hubs across the UK has grown by 53 per cent this year, up from 47 per cent last year, according to Zapmap.
The growth is in part boosted by the wider availability of rapid and ultra-rapid charging hubs which allow electric cars to be fully charged at a much quicker pace.
In total, there are currently 486 rapid charging hubs across the UK, more than double the number there were last year.
In terms of driver satisfaction with electric cars, the report revealed that it “remains high, with little appetite to return to ICE vehicles”.
Drivers ranked their EVs an average satisfaction score of 87 out of 100 with 78 per cent stating their approval over cost-effectiveness,while just under three-quarters enjoyed the environmental benefitsand 65 per cent said it had better vehicle performance than petrol and diesel cars.
Notably, less than three per cent of EV drivers said they would be interested in switching back to petrol or diesel vehicles.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis added that wholesale energy prices are dropping making it cheaper for drivers to charge their cars.
He said: “But they might also be surprised to learn that the actual cost of electricity they are using when they charge up makes up a relatively small part of the total price they have to pay due to the high charges levied on the networks for grid upgrades and connections.”
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EV drivers rely heavily on motorway charging points, the survey found
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A Government spokesperson told GB News: “The majority of electric vehicle drivers are able to charge at home, which can cost around half the price of filling up an equivalent petrol vehicle.
“While our ambition to move to clean power by 2030 will mean cheaper energy, we’re also supporting drivers to make the switch to electric through grants for those without driveways, £200million to roll out chargepoints, and lower tax rates for electric cars.”
