Should you finally go electric through salary sacrifice in 2026, or wait it out?

New models. Changing rules. Confusing headlines. And everyone’s mate who suddenly became an EV expert. You’re probably asking: should I switch to electric now, or hold off for a bit?

Let’s cut through the noise and look at what really matters.

This one’s easy: EVs come out cheaper (almost) every time. Here’s why:

• Tax: Petrol and diesel drivers pay full Vehicle Excise Duty every year. EVs start at just £10 for the first year, then £16.25 per month. If you’re on our EV salary sacrifice scheme, you don't need to pay road tax, we’ll handle it all for you. 
  • From April 2028, a mileage-based “eVED” charge of 3p per mile will also apply. But if you already have a car (or have ordered one) on our scheme, we’ll cover that for you too. 
• Servicing: No oil changes, no exhausts, no gearboxes – all that means EVs are simpler and cheaper to maintain. You’ll probably save around £79/year on servicing alone if you switch.
• Salary sacrifice: Salary sacrifice scheme reduces the tax you pay through your employer. Getting an EV this way saves you around £2,194 versus a petrol car over a four year lease on the same scheme. 

This is where the real savings kick in. Plug in at home and it can cost as little as 2p per mile on a smart tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver. It could save drivers an average of £3,125.

Public charging is already super convenient, and it’s growing fast. With Octopus Electroverse, you get access to over a million chargers across Europe, complete with clear pricing and exclusive discounts to make it even cheaper. 

And now the government is stepping things up. It's investing an extra £200m on top of the £400m already allocated, and offering 100% business rate relief on all non-domestic chargers. That means more chargers going in faster, which could bring costs down even more. 

Yes. Modern EVs easily cover daily commutes, errands, and weekend trips, with real-world ranges of 200-300 miles. That’s more than enough for most people.

Gareth Powell, Associate Director at The Construction Consultants, even drove from Worcester to Madrid in his Kia EV6. He received 4,000 free Electroverse miles through our salary sacrifice scheme, which means he didn’t pay anything to get there. 

“It's incredibly convenient,” he told us. “It does require a different mindset on how you use it, but you quickly get into the swing of it. I typically drive 200-300 miles a week and most of my charging happens at home on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, which is ridiculously cheap.”

And the tech keeps getting better every day. Faster charging, longer ranges, smarter software updates, and expanding networks mean EVs are becoming even more convenient and reliable.

Of course, you could wait for the next model, but the cars available today are already excellent and more than capable for everyday driving.

False! The cold weather can cause your EV battery to become less efficient, but this happens to fuel-powered cars too. Modern battery-management systems and pre-conditioning mean most EVs still give perfectly usable range.

While we’re here, let’s bust some more myths. Some people think EV batteries die quickly, but today most last around 10 years, with capacity fading gradually rather than suddenly.

And the old “risk of fire” worry? Honestly, we don’t know where that came from, but it’s completely false. EVs are up to 20 times less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel cars. 

Get the full rundown on common EV misconceptions here.  

So, should you go electric in 2026?

For most people, it’s a no-brainer. Charging is cheaper and more accessible, servicing is simpler, depreciation is lower, and tax savings add up. 

And if your employer offers EV salary sacrifice, it gets even smarter: you can reduce your tax while driving a brand‑new EV.

Plus, there’s a real cost to waiting. Benefit‑in‑Kind (BiK) rates are rising gradually over the coming years, and other taxes and charges are going up too. 

There’s no need to wait – the cars, the tech, and the savings are ready now.