The proportion of UK motorists with an EV will more than double across one car-buying cycle, according to new data.
A survey of 2,000 drivers by Kwik Fit found that 18 percent expect the next car they buy will be fully electric.
Currently, only seven percent of motorists say they own an EV. However, for the 8.9 million who plan to change their vehicle in the next 12 months, the proportion expected to go electric is even higher.
Of these drivers, more than a quarter (27 percent) say they will opt for an electric car, while over half (54 percent) plan to purchase a low-emissions vehicle in some form.
Petrol and diesel cars in decline
Kwik Fit has been surveying drivers about their car-buying plans for the past six years. In 2020, one third (33 percent) said they planned to buy a low-emissions vehicle – i.e. one with either an electric or hybrid powertrain.
In the latest 2026 study, that figure has increased to 44 percent: the highest proportion seen to date.
Just over two thirds (67 percent) of drivers have plans to change their vehicle, and they typically aim to do so in the next 22 months. Almost a third (31 percent) hope to change their car within the next year.
At present, 59 percent of motorists drive a car fuelled by petrol. Yet only 30 percent expect their next vehicle to have a petrol engine.
This figure is even starker for diesel, where 17 percent currently own a car with a diesel engine. When it comes to picking their next vehicle, though, just six percent plan to stick with the black pump.
Recent, record-breaking diesel prices are likely to have played a major part in influencing these decisions.
EV range concerns are reducing
Range anxiety remains the top reason for drivers not wanting to buy an electric car – cited as a concern by 35 percent of those surveyed. This does represent a decline from 41 percent in 2023, however.
Dan Joyce, operations director at Kwik Fit, said: “This research shows how quickly the make up of the UK car parc could change as people buy their next vehicle.
“Over the last six years, Kwik Fit’s research has shown a consistent rise in the number of drivers planning to switch to an EV or hybrid. It’s really interesting that more than a quarter of those planning to buy a car in the next year intend to go fully electric.
“It is vital that the ZEV Mandate phasing treads the right balance between encouraging the transition to low emissions and the practicalities vehicle manufacturers face. However, it’s notable that any potential changes have a clear risk of creating uncertainty among drivers.”
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