Are Drivers Switching to Low Emission Cars?

Did you know that 38% of UK motorists planning to change their car say it will be a low emissions vehicle? Surprisingly, this figure has not risen over the last two years, despite the rapid growth in new electric car registrations (accounting for 47% of all new car registrations in 2025 to date).

Since 2020, Kwik Fit has been tracking the buying behaviour of drivers, and specifically those intending to buy a fully electric (EV) or hybrid vehicle. This guide will outline the results of this research, as well as explain the reasons behind the trends.

Government policy for phasing out of ICE cars

When Kwik Fit first started tracking vehicle buying behaviour back in 2020, a third of drivers (33%) said their next vehicle would be an EV or hybrid. By 2023, this had risen to 42%, reflecting the trend towards greener energy and the fact that the sale of new ICE (internal combustion engine) cars was to be banned from 2030.

However, all this changed when the previous Conservative government announced in September 2023 that the ban on the sale of new ICE cars would be delayed until 2035. At that point, our research revealed that those intending to buy an EV or hybrid vehicle had dropped to 38%.

Interestingly, despite the reinstatement of the ban of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030, our tracker has revealed the proportion of drivers opting for a low emission car as their next vehicle has remained static at 38%, even in 2025.

Trends for fully electric vehicles

When it comes to EVs, the number of drivers saying they plan to buy a fully electric car as their next vehicle rose from 12% in 2023 to 15% in 2024, showing a trend towards favouring fully electric vehicles over hybrids. 

In 2024, almost one in four drivers (24%) said they aimed to change their car in the next 12 months. Of these, over half (52%) said they will be choosing a low emissions vehicle, with almost a quarter of these (24%) intending to go fully electric. 

Younger drivers leading the charge towards EVs

Our latest research from October 2025 reveals how drivers’ attitudes to EVs differ dramatically by age: 

• Nearly one in five (18%) drivers aged 18-34 expect to buy a fully electric model next. 
• This compares to just 11% (one in nine) of drivers over 55 who are planning to change their car. 

When looking at low emissions cars more broadly, 42% of drivers aged 18-34 say their next car will be either a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid; for drivers over 55, the figure is 36%.

Newer EV models are trusted by younger drivers more

The UK has seen a massive increase in the purchase of Chinese-made EVs, with China’s number one car brand BYD reporting an 880% jump in sales in September compared to the previous year. 

Kwik Fit’s research shows that this is likely to be driven by younger buyers: 

• 43% of 18-34 year olds said they would be more likely to buy an EV made in China than a Chinese-made petrol or diesel car. 
• Only 14% of over-55s think the same. 

The shift to EVs is providing opportunities for new and unfamiliar car brands to enter the UK. On this, we found that: 

• 42% of younger drivers (18-34) say they are more prepared to consider an EV from an unfamiliar manufacturer than they would an unknown petrol or diesel car. 
• For drivers over 55, who are arguably more established in their views of car brands, the figure is just 14%.

What puts drivers off EVs?

As well as tracking trends for drivers intending to make the switch to EVs, Kwik Fit also looks at what’s holding people back from moving to low emission vehicles. And this makes for interesting reading.

Concerns on EV range

The biggest barrier to EV ownership is range anxiety, or the perception that you cannot drive long distances on a single charge. An EV’s range is largely down to its battery capacity and efficiency of its motor. However, factors such as the weather, how fast you drive, and whether you’re driving in urban areas or on motorways can also affect range. 

Find out more about the EVs with the longest range in another of our blogs.

Falling concerns over EV range

In our 2023 study, range was cited by 41% of those who stated they are not considering switching to an EV. However, in our 2025 study, while range anxiety was still the biggest negative factor, the number of drivers citing this fell to 37% (down by 2% since 2024 and 4% since 2023).

Over half of younger drivers would buy a used EV

Although our research has previously found that concerns over an EV’s battery life put off many potential buyers, 52% of drivers aged 18-34 said they would be happy to buy a used EV. That’s nearly three times the proportion of drivers over 55 (18%).

In a related finding, some 42% of younger drivers said that used EVs are better value than a secondhand petrol or diesel model of a similar price. In contrast, only 9% of over 55s think this, with 46% disagreeing.

High EV vehicle costs

While electric cars are often much cheaper to run than similar-sized petrol or diesel vehicles, the up-front purchase cost is still generally much higher. 

It is this increased cost that presents another blocker to EV ownership. In 2024, 38% of drivers cited cost as the reason they weren’t looking to switch to a low emission vehicle in the next 12 months. 

At this time, 71% also believed the government should put financial incentives in place to support people in switching to electric vehicles. 49% agreed that this decision is important in order for EVs to become more accessible. 

Since then, there have been numerous government grants aimed at lowering the initial purchasing costs of EVs, such as the Electric Car Grant. However, the introduction of the new EV VED and the announcement of the 3p-per-mile EV tax in the October 2025 Budget now make running costs higher than in previous years.

Lack of public fast-charging points

Another concern for drivers is the lack of fast charging points available in the areas where they commonly drive. This concern appears to be well-founded, as, according to UK government figures, in April 2024, there were 59,670 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK, with only 11,590 having 50kW of power or above. However, research shows that total installed devices increased by 19,520 compared to April 2023, an increase of 49% - meaning that things are moving in the right direction.

Over the same period, drivers’ concern over the availability of fast charging points has also reduced. In 2023 this was cited by 37% of those not considering an EV, this year the figure has fallen to 33%. However, as announced in the October 2025 Budget, the government is planning to invest an additional £200m to accelerate the rollout of EV charging across the country. So, we may well see improvements in accessibility of chargers in public spaces.

Unable to charge at home

The logistics of being able to charge an EV at home is another factor affecting drivers’ purchasing decisions, with 36% of those in the Kwik Fit survey also citing this as a blocker in 2024.

Some of the main issues preventing the installation of home EV charging points include access and the installation itself. 

• When you consider that EV charging points must be installed within easy access of your home’s garage or driveway, in order to integrate with your home’s electrical wiring system, it’s easy to see why this isn’t possible for many people.
• For those living in older homes, or properties without a dedicated driveway where only on-street parking is available, it can feel impossible to install an EV charging point.
• As most home wiring systems were never designed with charging EVs in mind, installing a home charging station may require homeowners to pay for expensive upgrades to their systems - both to support charging, and to comply with electrical safety regulations. Any such installation would also need to be carried out by a qualified electrical contractor.

The future of EV behaviour

Our most recent car ownership survey reveals some promising trends for EVs; not only is second-hand EV ownership now seemingly “in vogue”, but younger generations are all-aboard for newer, unfamiliar EV brands - potentially accelerating the growth of this vehicle type in UK markets. 

For older generations, trust is a major factor when making such a significant purchase. As drivers see EVs being owned by their circle of family and friends, they will start to experience the benefits that EV ownership can bring, such as reduced running costs. This may go some way towards providing reassurance around common concerns. 

On this, Dan Joyce, Kwik Fit’s Operations Director, said: 

Find reliable EV servicing & support at Kwik Fit

When it comes to all your EV servicing needs, your local Kwik Fit centre is here to help. We’ll provide a quote based on your vehicle’s age, model, and mileage. And, with over 400 EV servicing locations across the UK, our technicians are highly qualified to carry out the servicing and maintenance on your vehicle.

In the meantime, keep up to date with the latest motoring news and trends on our blog.