Recently, we asked you to complete a survey to determine their opinions on electric vehicles and gain insight into their re-fuelling habits. Just over 5,000 of you kindly completed the survey and provided us with the following key insights:
- Petrol is the most popular vehicle type that users said would be their next purchase.
- Respondents were deterred from buying an electric vehicle due to the upfront cost, range anxiety, and a lack of charging points.
- Most respondents purchase their fuel on a fortnightly basis and completely fill their tank on refuelling.
- Just over 60% of those surveyed would travel between one and five miles to save 2p off a litre of fuel.
42% of respondents chose a petrol vehicle as their next purchase
Petrol remains the most popular vehicle type amongst our group. A hybrid vehicle was the next most popular choice, selected by 30% of respondents. It appears that users are not ready for the leap to a fully electric vehicle, as this option only received 8% of the vote, lower than diesel’s 19% share. Even though electric vehicles are the talk of the media, it seems that drivers are not ready to commit to EVs and prefer a tried and tested petrol car.
Respondents are put off the switch to an EV due to high prices
More than half (66%) of survey respondents were deterred from purchasing an electric vehicle due to the cost. According to a price index run by The Independent, the transactional cost of an EV has fallen from 2024 to 2025 but the average price across all EV types is £45,000*. Additionally, many well-known EV models can reach prices of over £65,000, and this may have skewed public perception of the typical cost for this type of vehicle. Expensive upfront costs have a clear impact on drivers’ decision to switch from petrol or diesel to electric.
Respondents also cited range anxiety as a deterrent, with 57% choosing this as a reason not to buy an electric vehicle. The average range of EVs has improved and most new electric cars can cover between 200 and 350 miles after a full charge**, but drivers still have concerns about how far they can go. This may be due to a deficiency of chargers around them, since 45% stated that a lack of chargers nearby put them off EVs. 43% of respondents said they had no charging options at home or work, making an electric vehicle unfeasible.
Other drivers prefer the familiar, with 30% of survey takers stating that a preference for diesel or petrol cars put them off switching to an EV. Finally, cost came up again in the remaining reason for not purchasing an electric vehicle: 25% were discouraged by the cost of charging itself.
The most common purchasing interval for fuel is fortnightly
Our survey respondents typically refuel once a fortnight, with 39% selecting this option. Monthly purchases came a close second, at 31% of the vote. 20% bought fuel every week, indicating a high mileage, while the final 10% bought fuel on another time basis.
Most drivers fill their tanks completely when refuelling
78% of survey takers fill up their tanks when they’re at the fuel pump, whereas just 12% fill their tank to the halfway point. Others purchase by monetary value rather than volume, as 10% selected this option.
Respondents are willing to travel for cheaper fuel
Lower costs are worth a journey for the majority of drivers who took our survey. 61% said that they would travel between one and five miles to save 2p off a litre of fuel. The next most popular option was selected by 27% of respondents, who would travel less than a mile for the saving. 12% would travel over five miles for the cost reduction.
* The Independent EV Price Index September 2025 https://www.independent.co.uk/cars/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-price-index-b2836859.html
** Electric vehicle range – how far can I drive in an EV? https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-cars/choosing/electric-vehicle-range-how-far-can-i-drive-in-an-ev/
Apparently batteries or E.V batteries only last 7 years and the cost of replacement runs into thousands, so the second hand value is very little.Also if there is an electrical fire with lithium batteries,they cannot be put out.
50% depreciation in 2 years is enought to put me off.
These results don’t surprise me at all.
Despite the push by government, petrol is the more reliable, cheaper and widely available fuel, compared to the costs of EVs, charging, the scarcity of charging points and how long you have to wait for a vacant public charger(if it works!) The government has done nothing to address the problems of domestic chargers for tower blocks or street parking. Their 2030 deadline will not work as drivers will opt for new petrol cars before that date. The motor industry can try to push EVs to meet government targets, but they will fall short.
We are on our 3rd secondhand EV, they have saved us a fortune over the years. As a secondhand buy they are great a company has taken all the depreciation for you, it’s all cheap charging and very little expenditure for you. Ours have always had plenty of battery warranty left not that it’s a problem as we haven’t noticed any battery range loss over the years. We do have ICE vehicles but in reality they get little use as they are t expensive to run
The only reason EVs sell at all is due to the company car tax being very low, the £3700 grant from the government and dealers practically give them away to avoid being fined for selling an ICE vehicle. If EVs were any good they wouldn’t need all these subsidies. Add catastrophic depreciation and a replacement battery essentially makes the car beyond economic repair.
No emissions at the tailpipe, but substantially more damage caused to the environment when making EVs due to the devastation by mining for the battery components. This, added to the additional costs and other negatives mean that I will not consider a fully electric vehicle. The closest I would get, if push comes to shove, would be a self charging hybrid – certainly not a PHEV.