UK is the readiest it’s ever been for EVs but transition still fragile, says AA
Mixed messages from the Government around electric vehicles could slow the UK’s transition, even as the country becomes better prepared, the AA has warned.
The latest AA UK EV Readiness Index found that factors helping the transition to EVs are moving in the right direction but noted that confusing and contradictory policies and actions by the Government risked undermining that progress.
While the Government is encouraging motorists to go electric through the Electric Car Grant and a recent information campaign, it is also putting drivers off with the planned pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles.
The AA’s quarterly index tracks eight indicators influencing drivers’ readiness to switch to electric vehicles, combining them into a single “readiness rating”.
The most recent report found that the rating had risen from 48.8 in Q4 of 2025 to 53.8 in Q1 of 2026. However, the AA said this was largely down to falling used EV prices and growing charging infrastructure rather than strong consumer demand.
The index showed that used EVs had dropped below the cost of equivalent petrol cars and were 10% cheaper than internal combustion engine vehicles during the quarter.
The AA noted that the availability of lower-priced vehicles – particularly from ex-fleet supply entering the market – had created new opportunities for motorists. However, it warned that rapid depreciation posed a “significant” challenge to fleets and manufacturers, which rely on strong residual values to support new vehicle sales and leasing.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: “Our index shows that conditions for switching to electric cars are improving, with cheaper used EVs opening the door for more drivers. But the reality is that the transition remains fragile.
“Lower prices may be good news for motorists looking for a bargain, but if values fall too quickly it becomes unsustainable for fleets and manufacturers who buy most new electric cars in the first place.”
He also noted that consumer confidence was being affected by contradictory policies from the Government. The index found that 55% of drivers said the prospect of the pay-per-mile eVED may put them off buying an EV.
He added: “Mixed messages from government – including uncertainty around future taxes such as eVED – risk denting confidence just as the market is beginning to mature from the early adopters.
“To keep momentum going we need clearer long-term policy signals and better information for drivers so they can make an informed choice when or whether to switch.”
His comments were echoed by Matt Galvin, managing director at Polestar UK, who called for the Government to take decisive action to support the transition.
He noted: “This research confirms that the transition to fossil fuel-free travel is too slow under the current policy framework.
“The latest energy crisis has sparked a surge in demand for EVs, with manufacturer data showing record interest in going electric in the UK.
“The government must act decisively to nurture this shift: introduce a second-hand EV grant to provide easier access to tail-pipe emissions free driving, reversing the congestion charge for EVs, postpone the widely unpopular eVED, and build the world’s fastest EV charging network by delivering the funding and policy support necessary to complete the transition to electric.”
