Middle East conflict giving a ‘sugar rush’ to electric vehicle market as significant driver doubts remain
The significant uptick in electric car interest following increasing petrol prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East risks being little more than a “sugar rush” to the UK’s electric transition without more efforts to remove barriers to electric adoption, according to Autotrader’s Road to 2030 Report, released today.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been the most popular fuel type on the UK’s biggest automotive platform for the first time, in the three months to May 31st. EVs took a 27% share of new car enquiries – far higher than the 18% seen in the same period in 2025 - as fuel prices hit their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[1] Growth in electric new car enquiries massively outstripped the market in April specifically with 125% growth year-on-year, compared to 31% for the broader new car market on Autotrader.
But a recent survey of car buyers conducted for Autotrader’s latest Road to 2030 Report shows the extent of the task ahead to win over drivers in the longer term, despite the conflict triggering a surge in interest.
There’s a real risk geopolitical forces are causing a temporary sugar rush for the UK’s EV market as buyers respond to soaring petrol prices. We shouldn’t rely on international conflict to boost this transition - we’ve seen previous spikes in electric interest driven by petrol price hikes simply don’t last and there’s no guarantee this boost is here to stay. When only 10% of recent car buyers considered an electric car, we’ve got problems.
Its survey, of 2,000 used and new buyers who chose not to go electric, found that just one in 10 had initially considered purchasing an electric vehicle as fears over price, charging and battery life prevailed. With the Government’s ban on new petrol and diesel car sales now less than five years away, the findings signal most buyers are still not seriously weighing up the switch.
More than eight in 10 buyers (84%) think electric cars are expensive to buy, seven in 10 (69%) find charging inconvenient, and almost two-thirds (65%) say there are not enough places to charge near their homes.
Consumer price fears come despite Autotrader’s March and April car pricing figures showing for the first time ever, that the average price of a new EV advertised on its platform fell below that of the average petrol car. In May, this price difference reversed as petrol was once again cheaper than electric by £13 on average – but given the price gap was £3,607 in the same period in 2025, affordability is improving.
The research also reveals persistent barriers for different demographic groups. In gender terms, women were almost twice as likely to state that lack of knowledge about EVs is stopping them from buying one (8% of men said this vs. 17% of women). Similarly, confidence in EV knowledge jumped after household income crossed the £80,000 mark, signalling more work is needed to boost awareness among lower income households.
Used electric market key to successful transition
Three quarters of drivers only ever buy used cars, so a healthy used electric market is vital for a successful transition. There’s clear growth in affordable electric options with used cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa-E and Puegoet E-2008 now available for around £10,000. However, available supply of these affordable options is insufficient to fully unlock the electric market for low-income households.
Autotrader is calling on the Government to divert some of the current ECG funding to support more households to access used EVs, as well as ensuring every driver can access lower at-home charging costs. They are also calling for a delay to the implementation of the Treasury’s proposed electric Vehicle Excise Duty, over fears it will discourage drivers from making the switch.
Plummer continued: "Electric mass adoption is an exciting opportunity to change how we drive but we must be aware of the realities, there’s a chance the sales boost we’re seeing now will dry up future interest so we must work to address underlying barriers to adoption – we can’t rely on a war to stimulate demand.
“The new research also highlights that thousands of people on lower household incomes are still being left behind. With less than five years to go until the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, the Government should do more to ensure an accessible and equitable transition."
To read the full report, visit: https://autotraderroadto2030.co.uk/
Notes to editors
Find Out Now surveyed 2,176 GB adults who recently purchased a new or used car but did not buy an electric vehicle, between 29 May – 2 June 2026.
There are now 40 new electric models priced under £30,000, the average range of a new EV has passed 300 miles, and the public network has grown to more than 120,000 charge points.[2]
[1] Rolling 3 month average of new car enquiries, March, April, May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
[2] https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/features/electric-cars-facts-and-figures
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