Electric car owners who can charge at home are saving £960 a year compared to petrol vehicle owners, according to fresh data from Autotrader and Zapmap. The figure marks a £180 year-on-year jump in annual fuel cost savings for electric vehicle (EV) drivers in July, driven by sustained petrol price hikes linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Record Savings and Growing EV Interest
The £960 saving is the highest since records began in November 2023, based on a typical 80/20 split of home and public charging compared to petrol prices. Electrified cars accounted for more than half of all new car enquiries on Autotrader in July, with pure electric cars taking 29.1% and plug-in hybrids taking 20.8%.
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, said: "Whilst consumer interest in electric is growing, there are still barriers to further adoption. Sales are still behind official ZEV mandate targets, in 2028 more than half of all new car sales need to be electric, and pay-per-mile tax increases for EV drivers are looming."
Campaign to Bust Myths
Octopus Electroverse has joined the 'Electric Cars: The Facts' campaign, created by Autotrader, ChargeUK, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, to promote user-friendly facts about EVs. The campaign is endorsed by the Department for Transport.
Matt Davies, founder of Octopus Electroverse, added: "Not long ago, charging away from home felt like a massive hurdle for drivers looking to switch. Today, public chargers are everywhere, technology is better than ever, and - when combined with home charging - saving nearly £1,000 a year on fuel makes electric the undeniable choice. The biggest barrier left isn't infrastructure or range, it's simply a lack of clear information. We're proud to join 'Electric Cars: The Facts' to strip away the hassle, bust the outdated myths, and give drivers the data and confidence they need to go electric."
Impact on EV Adoption
The data highlights the financial advantage of home charging, but also underscores the challenges ahead. With ZEV mandate targets requiring more than half of all new car sales to be electric by 2028, and looming pay-per-mile tax increases, the campaign aims to address the information gap that remains a key barrier to wider EV adoption.
