A new nationwide study released today by on-street EV charging provider char.gy has revealed the importance of accurate information on electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
The report, What Everyone Should Know About EVs, demonstrates simple, fact-based statements, such as “EV batteries last 10–15 years”, led to a 12-point increase in drivers’ willingness to consider an EV.
It added that myths and misinformation remain “significant barriers”, with 71% of UK drivers who are not yet driving electric citing “range anxiety” as their number one concern, despite significant improvements in EV range.
Purchase price also remains a top concern (62%), despite the average used EV price dropping by more than 20% since 2023, and expected to fall another 28% by 2030.
The research also revealed the second-hand EV market was a “blind spot”, as more than half (53– 57%) of EV potential drivers now say they plan to buy second-hand – despite the public conversations focusing solely on new car sales, and the Electric Car Grant.
Perceptions of charging availability and awareness of charging options also continue to deter potential buyers. Although 63% of UK drivers say they’re open to owning an EV within five years, only 5% currently do, with 72% of rejecters saying they don’t know where they’d charge. 88% of current EV drivers also report dissatisfaction with public charging – citing cost, availability, and reliability. This reinforces charging as the single biggest adoption trigger.
Affordability is also critical, it found, with almost two-thirds (63%) of non-owners stating cheaper charging would persuade them to switch, rising to 78% of short-term and 76% of long-term considerers.
While a majority of EV adopters charge at home (90%), 40% of the UK population has no access to a driveway. This driveway divide is creating a two-tier EV economy, leaving urban renters and those in flats behind.
Unlike rapid charging stations or driveway models, kerbside charging meets drivers where they live at affordable costs, especially the 24% “short-term EV considerers” who are ready to switch in the next 12 months, and who tend to be younger and live in urban areas.
The report calls for a series of urgent interventions to address these pain points, including targeted myth-busting campaigns, the expansion of kerbside charging infrastructure in underserved urban areas, and renewed financial incentives for both home chargers and EV purchases, especially in the second-hand market.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:
“EVs aren’t a distant future anymore: they’re here, they’re affordable, and they’re rapidly outpacing combustion cars on performance and value. But the data shows the biggest barrier isn’t the vehicles, it’s the stories we tell about them. If we can debunk the myths and meet people where they are, especially at the kerbside, we’ll accelerate this transition faster and fairer.”
Ginny Buckley, broadcaster and Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com, said:
“An Electrifying.com survey of more than 11,000 UK drivers at the end of 2024 found that just over half said not having access to off-street parking would put them off switching to an EV. This is why it’s crucial we get on-street charging right — to ensure nobody is left behind on Britain’s electric journey.”
Image of report courtesy of char.gy
