Electric Car News - Why is the price of fuel is pushing more UK drivers into new and used EVs ?

More UK drivers are being pushed into new and used EVs with the price of fuel - Electric Car News

The growth of all-electric vehicles is not a phenomenon of new cars; used and ex-lease cars are suddenly making a traction in the UK during 2026. The impact of the middle eastern conflict is being felt by the UK in various guises with the cost of our fuel and energy directly impacted.

As reported in the Motor Trade News  the Startline finance group are reporting on a surge in used electric car sales which they attribute to the rising costs of fuel caused via the wars abroad.

Also noting aspects like bigger volumes, better choice, lower battery concerns and better infrastructure, used EV data is positive and the market is very much “turning a corner” on how it previously operated. The Startline team noted the fuel shock as a big impetus for customers engaging with the used car dealers.

With the SMMT team  further reporting on this, you can see the impact that used EVs are having. Britain’s used market grew 0.7% to exceed 2 million sales, the highest since 2021. The battery electric transactions are up 67% and they now account for 5.5% of the market.

Yet again, choice, accessibility and confidence are driving factors behind the push into used. Our e-car lease used car proposition is experiencing similar growth , especially with the retail and consumer aspect of the industry. While EVs are often seen as a “business tool” due to their incredible tax advantages, the benefits are now just beyond the company car and salary sacrifice market.

As SMMT note, the sharp rises in April and May 2026 coincided with the Middle East conflicts and fuel uncertainties. But why? 

There are throwaway phrases when it comes to an EV, like “you can charge from as little as £5 …” without any real context. However, digging into the details, customers will find that it isn’t all that confusing. This is especially so when you compare the analysis to a petrol or diesel car.

With an EV you have a battery size, shown as kWh, which effectively tells you how much energy / electricity you need to charge the vehicle. Taking the ID7 GTX Tourer (estate) as the example, this has a gross battery size of 91 kWh and a usable battery of 86 kWh.

It is the latter, the usable battery, which is key for ascertaining what you need to full-charge the vehicle and therefore how much it will cost. Once you know the usable battery, you simply need to work out the cost of electricity for establishing the calculation.  Where and how you charge becomes key.

If you are a UK resident with off-road parking, or a drive, you need to get a home charge point solution. Put simply, the cost of charging at home is far cheaper than the public network and this is, to some extent, where price discrimination and unfairness can occur.

Without a home facility, while it is possible to operate and enjoy zero-emission driving, it is not quite as cheap. When you charge at home, your electricity provider will offer you a supported or subsidised tariff for carrying it out overnight. While this will vary in price, in our example below we will presume it is 10 pence per kWh, which is actually at the high-end of the cost. Again, with the ID7 GTX as an example:

•  Overnight Tariff – 10 pence per kWh – full charge of £8.60
•  Standard Tariff – 24.67 pence per kWh – full charge of £21.22
• Rapid tariff – 79 pence per kWh – full charge of £67.94 

Based on the ID7 covering around 310 miles on a real-world range analysis you will get a cost per mile of 2.77 pence. This is a fraction of the 15 – 20 pence per mile that a traditional petrol or diesel will offer. Using the  RAC fuel tracker you can see the alarming cost of unleaded petrol at 161.50 pence per litre and diesel at 181.81 pence per litre.

The UK drivers in combustion vehicles are very much feeling the impact of fuel in their pockets, which is why something needs to change for many customers - especially those who can charge at home (overnight). This is without talking about EVs as better low-mileage and town driving solutions, the lower servicing and maintenance costs plus the fact they drive better.

We are just using honest and objective metrics to show how a customer going into a new or used EV will save far more money on a BEV than with combustion.

In terms of the car shown, the VOLKSWAGEN ID.7 TOURER 250kW 4MOTION GTX 86kWh 5dr Auto [Exterior+ Pan] Pure Electric Car, this is based on the following specification:

•  Metallic - Grenadilla black
•  Interior pack - Art velours Perforated eco microfleece cloth with seat bolsters in Artex - Soul black/red
•  20" Skagen black diamond turned alloy wheels with airstop tyres
•  Energy efficient heat pump
•  Mode 3 / Type 2 Charging Cable (Public Charging & home wallbox charger – Fast charging) 

How does the ID7 Tourer perform – is it a rated EV?

•   GTX - with a usable battery of 86 kWh this AWD Estate offers 250kW (335hp), top speeds of 124mph and 0 - 62 times of 5.5 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 260 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 355 miles (on a full charge) - 310 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 9 hours and 15 minutes with the 199 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 29 minutes. The ID.7 has no Bidirectional charging. It has a 146 mpg equivalent, 605L cargo volume (1714L with the seats down). It can tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 1800kg (Braked). The heat pump is available as a cost option. 

Need more help and advice on a new or used EV?

Head to our VW ID7 lease deals at or just get in touch with our expert team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected].

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