EV charging concerns continue to hold back drivers despite growing cost advantage

June 4, 2026

More UK drivers now believe electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars, but concerns about charging infrastructure continue to slow adoption, according to new research from Motability.

The latest EV Transition Tracker found the proportion of drivers who see EVs as cheaper to fuel has risen from 20% to 25% in the past six months, while among existing EV drivers the figure has increased from 47% to 56%.

Despite improving perceptions around running costs, interest in switching remains largely unchanged. Just 42% of drivers say they would consider an EV as their next vehicle, falling to 29% among Motability customers.

The research points to charging confidence as a key barrier. More than a third (37%) of drivers say it is difficult to find chargers in their area, while more people believe their local council is doing a poor job of installing on-street charging infrastructure than a good one.

The findings highlight a growing challenge for fleets. Vehicle choice is becoming less of a barrier to electrification, but infrastructure planning remains critical to successful EV adoption.

FleetWise explored this issue in its Better Fleet guide on charging infrastructure gaps, highlighting the importance of understanding real-world charging behaviour before deployment, building a mix of depot, home and public charging options, and treating energy planning as part of wider fleet strategy.

Providers including Webfleet, Samsara and Geotab can help fleets understand charging demand, while Rightcharge, Allstar and Paua support charging payments and reimbursement across multiple charging environments. For fleets scaling EV operations, the challenge is increasingly less about buying electric vehicles and more about ensuring drivers have reliable, visible and cost-effective access to charging.