How we can speed up the electric vehicle revolution

You’ve probably heard that the UK plans to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.

Millions of drivers have already made the switch. They're enjoying lower running costs, fewer emissions, and a more predictable alternative to changing oil prices. 

But not everyone’s convinced just yet. Let’s take a look at what’s holding people back, and what might help tip the balance.

EV adoption is growing quickly. In 2021, there were around 400,000 EVs on UK roads. Today, there are over 1.7 million. 

By 2030, it’ll be 8 million. And by 2040, there will be 25.5 million.

(Source: Projections from the Energy Saving Trust (EST) based on the UK Government's "Road to Zero")

But we’re not at mass adoption yet. For many drivers, switching still feels like a “one day” decision rather than a “today” one.

Most of the hesitation comes down to a few familiar concerns:

• Charging access: Plugging in can still feel like more of an effort than filling up, especially for people without a driveway
• Upfront costs: EVs have a bit of an image problem when it comes to price, and many people don’t know about the cheaper options available
• Range anxiety: Many people still worry about running out of charge mid-journey
• Electricity prices: There’s still confusion about whether it’s actually cheaper to drive electric (spoiler: it is) 

The good news is these are mainly perception issues, and they’re all improving over time.

There’s no easy fix. We’ll need a bit of everything: rules that actually work, enough charging points, businesses on board, and EVs that are priced realistically for most people’s budgets. 

Here’s what’s making the biggest difference right now.

For most people, the biggest reason to switch is to save money.

Government support is helping here. The Electric Car Grant offers up to £3,750 off eligible new EVs. On top of that, EVs benefit from much lower Benefit-in-Kind (company car) tax than petrol or diesel cars, which makes a noticeable difference over time.

Then there are schemes like EV salary sacrifice, which let drivers pay from their pre-tax salary. By rolling the car, insurance, maintenance, and even the home charger installation into one monthly payment, it makes switching to electric much more manageable.

Government grants also play a big role. They give businesses and drivers the reassurance that going electric is practical and here to stay.

Clean air zones, tax incentives, and the 2030 phase-out of new EV sales all help show that electric is the direction of travel. 

But there’s still much more the government could do. Particularly in closing the gap between what people think EVs are like (expensive, unreliable, and hard to charge) and what they’re actually like to live with (affordable, reliable, and easy to run).

The truth is, charging is already pretty simple for most people.

Most EV owners charge at home most of the time. Smart tariffs like Octopus Energy’s EV Saver can also make charging significantly cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel. Even better, Octopus EV drivers get an extra 1p discount on the current off-peak fixed rate, charging for just 7p/kWh.

 Public charging networks are growing quickly, too. Octopus Electroverse is Europe’s largest, with over a million chargepoints and an easy-to-use app that gives you access to them all at the touch of a button.

Depending on where you live and your driving habits, it might take a little getting used to. But for many people, charging is already easier and more affordable than you might expect.

If you want change to happen fast, businesses are the ultimate accelerator. 

And there are easy ways they can tap into this power. Lots of businesses are using salary sacrifice schemes to give their employees easier access to electric cars while cutting emissions and boosting engagement and retention. 

“Five years later, we've got 70 people benefited, which is one of the most successful things we've done from an employee benefits point of view,” says James McMaster, CEO of Huel.

Not everyone will jump on board straight away, of course. But with tax savings and no upfront costs, these schemes are a clever way to nudge more people into electric driving.

There’s so much we can do to make switching to an EV feel easy. 

Support from employers, through things like salary sacrifice schemes or workplace chargers, makes the switch feel safer. Showing that running costs are often cheaper than petrol or diesel helps people make the decision with confidence.

For Paul O’Connor, Head of Financial Accounts at Sirona Care & Health, it just took a little getting used to.

“People who are new to electric cars suffer from range anxiety, but it’s improving at a great pace,” he explains. “The Electroverse app shows you where all the stations are.”

With government grants and lower Benefit-in-Kind rates, now’s a particularly good time to start driving electric.

If you’re a business owner, sign up for EV salary sacrifice today. It’s low admin and totally free to set up. 

And if you’re an employee, check out our simple guide to building a business case for EV salary sacrifice. It’s got everything you need to get your company on board.