Electric vehicles (EV) are now the most popular fuel type on Autotrader for the first time ever, as the potential fuel cost savings for running an EV have now reached £960 annually in April, according to the platform and Zapmap.
Autotrader found that 29% of new car enquires are about EVs, up from 17% in April last year, with petrol now at 25% and diesel at just 7.8%. Plug-in hybrids is 18%.
The findings follow months of rising petrol prices which have driven spikes in EV interest on Autotrader. The news comes as Autotrader, ChargeUK and the SMMT also release the quarterly update of the Electric Cars: The Facts campaign designed to combat misinformation surrounding electric vehicles.
Alongside the annual saving, The Facts also showed 40 new EVs below £30,000, up from 38 in January, more than one in four (26%) used EVs on Autotrader are now priced £15,000 and below, as well as 45% are now £20,000 and below. In addition the average range of a new EV is now over 300 miles.
An updated methodology for how the public charging network is counted, changing from the number of charging points (which can include multiple chargers) to the number of charger plugs available – currently 120,338.
Vehicle leasing company Lex Autolease has also been announced as the new champions of cross-industry Facts initiative as part of the quarterly update.
Paul Hyne, Commercial Director, Lex Autolease, commented:
“The EV conversation has moved on. Choice has broadened, technology has matured, and more drivers are experiencing electric as part of normal life. From our perspective, financing one in eight electric vehicles on UK roads gives us a front‑row view of that progress.
“Supporting The Facts is about helping that momentum continue, by sharing clear, up‑to‑date information that reflects how electric vehicles are actually being used today.”
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, said:
“At Zapmap we’ve been monitoring the cost of charging on the public network since November 2023. This shows that the vast majority of drivers choosing electric will enjoy total cost of ownership savings – even more so as the cost of new EVs continues to fall. We’re now seeing that for EV drivers with a typical 80/20 split between home and public charging, the cost saving of charging their EV compared to fuelling a petrol or diesel car is at the highest level since we began tracking.
“Getting the facts on the reality of EVs and charging out into the market is critical to enable the next million drivers to make the switch to electric with confidence.”
Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy and Insights at Autotrader said:
“Now more than ever, it’s vital consumers understand the potential benefits of electric driving, with average running cost savings so high and upfront price reducing, it’s a great time to consider.
“We’re determined to ensure drivers have the right information to make informed choices that best suit their needs and we’re delighted Lex Autolease have joined our campaign. Whilst we know electric cars might not yet be right for all buyers just yet, we hope The Facts help provide confidence for those that are keen to make the switch.”
Image from Green Car Guide
