Petrol and diesel drivers crave electric car switch to save £1,000 a year on running costs and fuel
Drivers could save more than £1,000 when charging at home compared to petrol and diesel
GETTY/PA
Half of Britons who own petrol and diesel cars want to switch to electric vehicles because of the cheaper running costs, according to new research.
Petrol and diesel drivers are slowly getting used to huge prices at the pumps, which has prompted many to consider switching to electric, where it can be cheaper and often more convenient.
Data from RAC Fuel Watch shows how fuel prices are slowly falling with the UK average setting drivers back 139.92p per litre for petrol and 144.64p per litre for a diesel vehicle.
The motoring organisation expects these prices to continue falling in the near future, although electric vehicle owners can benefit from cheaper running costs.
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There are estimated to be around 700,000 chargers at homes and workplaces across the UK
GETTYThis is made even clearer if they have the ability to charge at home. When charging overnight using an EV-friendly tariff, drivers could get on the road for hundreds of pounds less than other drivers.
Drivers charging an electric car using the Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver tariff could save up to £1,000 a year compared to petrol and diesel vehicle owners.
One in three drivers of internal combustion engine cars identified lower running costs as their main reason for wanting to switch to electric.
Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said the research was "clear", although lamented the slow sale of electric vehicles across the UK in recent months.
She added: "Certain laggard car manufacturers may claim drivers aren't ready for EVs, but they underestimate UK drivers' appreciation for the value, fun, and peace of mind electric cars offer."
Almost all (96 per cent) electric car owners said they are happy with their choice and say their next vehicle will also be a zero emission vehicle.
Other reasons included the positive impact it had on the planet (55 per cent), wanting to have the latest technology (41 per cent) and cheaper running costs (40 per cent).
Four in five electric car drivers said they had a good overall experience with public charging, which Howarth said contradicts "outdated" claims that charging is inconvenient.
It comes as the latest Zapmap data shows there are 68,273 charging devices now installed and operational around the UK, with almost 1,500 rolled out in August alone.
This represents a 41 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of public devices, with the UK on track to meet its target of having 300,000 EV chargers by the end of the decade.
Home charging presents an opportunity for drivers to save, with two-thirds of charging done at home and 88 per cent of survey respondents saying they make use of a low-cost tariff.
Howarth concluded, saying: “Government policies like the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate are critical to keep driving the manufacturers to bring affordable electric cars to UK drivers.
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There are more than 68,000 public chargers across the UK
PA"Those manufacturers are grabbing market share, and there’s a race on to be the brands of our future roads.”
The ZEV mandate instructs car brands to have 22 per cent of total sales come from zero emission vehicles, rising to 80 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.
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