UK Driveway-Free Households Face Exclusion from EV Perks, Survey Reveals
A major new driver survey published today raises significant concerns that government plans for a pay-per-mile charging scheme could severely hinder the next wave of electric vehicle adoption across the United Kingdom. The research from EVA England, released as its Chief Executive appears before the Transport Select Committee, indicates that lower-income drivers are particularly worried about the scheme's design, highlighting fresh warnings that the transition to electric vehicles could fall short without urgent action on affordability and charging infrastructure.
Growing Divide Between Early Adopters and Mainstream Drivers
During the Transport Select Committee session, witnesses were clear that while electric vehicle supply is increasing, demand is not keeping pace. Affordability, charging access, and consumer confidence have emerged as the critical constraints on mass adoption. The survey reveals a growing divide between early adopters and the wider public, with lower-income drivers—who are essential for achieving mass adoption—expressing significantly greater concern about how the government's proposed pay-per-mile scheme (known as eVED) will function in practice.
Specifically, drivers are worried about the requirement to estimate and pay for mileage upfront. Among households earning under £26,000 annually, 76% expressed concern about these upfront payments, compared to just 56% of the highest earners. There are real fears that these households could be left out of pocket by the scheme's current design.
Risk of Reinforcing Existing Barriers
EVA England warns that without substantial changes, policies like eVED risk reinforcing existing barriers rather than helping more drivers make the switch to electric vehicles. This concern comes at a particularly sensitive time when confidence among mainstream households remains fragile. Giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee, EVA England Chief Executive Vicky Edmonds urged Members of Parliament to focus on the real-world barriers holding back wider adoption.
"From a driver's perspective, we are creating a two-tier transition," Edmonds stated. "We've got around 25% of new car sales electric, but only 5.5% of the overall car parc. Those getting into EVs love them. But they are disproportionately higher income and more likely to have driveways."
She emphasized the critical nature of this issue: "Unless we make this work for a wider range of households, the transition will not reach the mass market. For low and middle income households, cost is absolutely essential. There are many who want to switch but simply cannot afford to today."
Experts Call for Targeted Support and Policy Redesign
Eloise Sacares, Vehicles Policy Senior Researcher at Transport & Environment, highlighted the importance of social leasing as a potential solution. "Social leasing is the perfect next step for the UK's EV transition," she explained. "With the introduction of eVED approaching, the government must put in place targeted incentives for those who currently drive internal combustion engine cars to transition to battery electric vehicles."
Sacares pointed out a significant gap in current support systems: "While the Electric Car Grant reduces costs for consumers who buy their cars upfront, there is currently no support for those who lease their vehicles. With the cheapest EV lease at £141 a month, those on low incomes are priced out and unable to benefit from lower running costs. By bringing leasing costs down to as low as £77 a month, we can ensure that EVs are accessible and reduce bills for all."
Urgent Calls for Policy Changes
Edmonds added further context to the challenges facing widespread adoption: "Right now, too many drivers are looking at the transition from the outside in. If we want EV adoption to scale, we need to make it affordable, simple and predictable—especially for those without driveways or access to upfront capital."
She outlined specific recommendations for government action: "That means getting the basics right: fair taxation, lower public charging costs, and targeted support that reaches the majority of households. EVA England is calling on Government to delay the introduction of eVED until at least 2030, redesign the scheme so drivers pay based on actual mileage rather than estimates, and ensure it is introduced alongside meaningful action on charging costs and affordability."
The survey findings and expert testimony present a clear picture: without addressing the specific concerns of lower-income households and those without private driveway charging access, the United Kingdom's transition to electric vehicles risks leaving significant portions of the population behind, potentially undermining national environmental goals and creating transportation inequities that could persist for years to come.
