Electric Vehicle Mileage Marks a New Era
Last year, every twentieth mile driven was in an electric vehicle.
Electric vehicles now account for over 5% of the total car mileage in the UK, indicating a significant trend towards more sustainable modes of transport.
According to a recent study by the RAC Foundation, by the end of 2024, cars that produce zero emissions represented 5.3% of all car mileage, a notable increase given that electric vehicles make up only 3.8% of the total car fleet.
This noteworthy increase is underscored by data from over 1.2 million MOT tests, showing that electric vehicle drivers tend to travel significantly more miles compared to their share of the vehicle population.
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As the government reintroduces the Electric Car Grant scheme, offering up to £3,750 to purchasers of eligible zero-emission vehicles, the data reveal that purely battery-powered cars less than three years old are driven an average of 10,054 miles a year. This is compared to 7,585 miles for petrol cars and 10,728 miles for diesel vehicles of the same age.
This higher usage of electric vehicles suggests that they are increasingly being adopted as primary vehicles, challenging earlier assumptions that they are best suited for short trips.
Experts now see electric vehicles as viable for long-distance travel, previously the domain of diesel cars, thanks to improvements in range and cost efficiency.
The shift towards electric vehicles represents a fundamental change in their usage patterns, according to experts. Where once they were primarily seen as useful for urban commutes, they are now being used for distances comparable to those of diesel vehicles, which are often preferred for long-haul driving.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, noted: “Previously, car buyers, particularly fleets and businesses, would opt for diesel vehicles when they needed a reliable vehicle for extensive travel. Now, it appears that electric cars are beginning to replace diesels, offering an economical alternative in terms of range and cost per mile, along with attractive tax incentives.”
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- The Labour Party intends to exclude Chinese car brands from the £650 million electric vehicle grant amid tensions with Beijing.
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Electric cars now account for more than five percent of all car mileage in the UK.
Gooding added: “The days when electric vehicles were considered merely a secondary option for short journeys are quickly changing to an era where battery-electric cars are purchased for their robustness.”
The Government’s newly launched Electric Car Grant, supported by £650 million funding until 2029, aims to hasten the shift to more sustainable transport solutions. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that manufacturers must meet verified science-based targets to qualify for this scheme. The program evaluates emissions not only from the vehicles themselves but also from the manufacturing process, including battery production, against the carbon intensity of electricity grids in the manufacturing countries.
Drivers and businesses are increasingly opting for electric vehicles over diesel due to the financial incentives provided by tax benefits.
The initiative could lead to annual savings of up to £1,500 in running costs for drivers, significantly impacting their expenses. The Government has announced a broader set of measures to support the expansion of charging infrastructure. These include £25 million for cross-pavement charging channels and £30 million in grants for installing charge points at depots for vans, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). An additional £8 million will fund charger installations at NHS sites, and the Department for Transport has also allowed EV charging hubs to be signposted from major roads, enhancing visibility and accessibility for drivers. The combined efforts of the public and private sectors are aimed at addressing infrastructure concerns that have historically deterred some motorists from transitioning to electric vehicles.