As an EV driver am I feeling the pinch less?

28 Apr 26

You can see more green number plate markers on the road. Just ask my daughter, who loves to count them! However, we’re still far from a tipping point – and even for me, it’s taken time to get used to.

First, let’s put it out there; I’ve been driving an EV for three years. I can already hear the comments about range and the anxiety it brings, but stay with me.

Let’s start with the numbers. According to ZapMap, as of March 2026 there were over 1.97 million fully electric cars in the UK, representing around 5.7% of the 34 million cars on UK roads. Most drivers still rely on petrol or diesel.

EV uptake is growing, and meanwhile the news is full of headlines about oil supply concerns pushing up global prices and leaving petrol and diesel drivers paying more at the pump.

Recent RAC figures show the impact. A few months ago, the average pump price was £1.33 per litre; by 9th April, it had risen to £1.58, a 19% increase. A tank now costs £86.92, up nearly £14 since February and the highest level in 18 months. It raises a question: as an EV driver, am I feeling the pinch less?

Electricity prices fluctuate too, but most UK electricity comes from natural gas and renewables, which is keeping EV charging costs relatively stable for now, especially on a fixed EV energy tariff.

You can see more green number plate markers on the road, just ask my daughter, who loves to count them; but we’re still far from a tipping point. And even for me, having switched from diesel to EV, it’s taken time for it to become learned behaviour.

I don’t have off-street parking, and I’m not alone. English Housing Survey data shows 8 million households (32%) are in the same position, with 4 million (16%) relying on on-street parking like I do. That makes home charging, the biggest financial benefit of an EV, much harder to access.

I rely on a standard public charger just under half a mile from my house, heading there late at night to plug in and catch off‑peak rates before walking home. I often forget to stop the charge at 80% (usually because I have fallen asleep), so I end up paying more for the last 20%.

An EV pavement solution could help households run a cable across the pavement using a recessed gully but planning rules haven’t caught up. Any private EV charge point serving on‑street parking requires planning permission, unless a council has created a Local Development Order to remove that requirement. My council hasn’t.

The bottom line: my EV may protect me from unstable fuel prices, but only if infrastructure and planning keep up. Until then, I’m stuck between the promise of cheaper driving and the reality of walking nearly half a mile late at night to charge my car, reminding myself to turn off the charge on my walk home.

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As an EV driver am I feeling the pinch less?

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