Closing the Gap: Electric Cars in Britain Catching Up

New data has shaken up the way we think about electric cars (EVs) in Britain. Despite concerns that EVs can't match the mileage of traditional petrol and diesel cars, recent analysis by Cap hpi tells a different story.

In 2023, the average EV owner drove 8,292 miles—just 743 miles less than petrol and diesel drivers. This shows that EVs are holding their own, challenging the idea that they're only good for short trips.

Experts also noticed something interesting: EV owners are driving more, while petrol and diesel drivers are using their cars less often. This suggests a shift in how people are choosing to get around.

The study looked at data from over 17 million cars on UK roads since 2014. It's clear that EVs are catching up, thanks to better batteries and more charging stations.

Dylan Setterfield from Cap hpi explains, "People are trusting their EVs more and getting better at planning longer trips." Even though the pandemic slowed things down, with fewer miles driven overall, the trend is picking back up again.

But not everyone is fully sold on EVs just yet. Nearly half of EV owners still keep a petrol or diesel car for long journeys. This shows there's still concern about EV range and charging.

However, the future looks promising. EV mileage has nearly doubled since 2014, and it's only going up from here. As technology improves and more people make the switch, it seems like electric cars are here to stay—and they're giving petrol and diesel cars a run for their money.