ALMOST a third (31%) of 18 to 54 year old drivers who don’t own an EV would consider switching to one in the next 12 months based on current fuel prices, or future rises, according a YouGov poll by car and van leasing broker Gateway2Lease.
As a result of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, the average price of petrol is now 18% higher than at the start of March 2026, while diesel has risen by 24%.
“Although a deal has been agreed to end the conflict, fuel prices could take months to normalise, putting a further strain on consumer spending during the current cost of living crisis,” said Managing Director Kelly Marshall. “And it’s encouraging to see from our research that more consumers are open to the idea of having an electric car.”
The research found that more than one in 10 (12%) of 18 to 54 year olds drivers who don’t own an EV are already considering switching to one based on current fuel prices. This almost doubles to about two in 10 (19%) if fuel prices increase by up to 50p or more on top of what consumers usually pay within the next year.
About four in 10 drivers (38%) said they were “more conscious of driving costs” as a result of rising fuel prices. However, more than half (56%) of respondents who wouldn’t switch to EV see the main barrier as the upfront cost.
“While it’s true that some EVs have a higher list price than an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, leasing an EV rather than buying one outright is often an affordable option.”
“And the overall cost of an EV in the long term can work out significantly cheaper due to savings from charging at home compared to filling up at the pumps, and lower service and maintenance costs as EVs have fewer moving parts.”
Gateway2Lease adds the further incentives of the Electric Car Grant, exemptions from the London ULEZ and Clean Air Zones in other cities, plus for company car drivers a BiK of 4% whereas a diesel car could have a rate of up to 37%.
“The drivers that we lease electric vehicles to also appreciate the environmental benefits of EVs and an enjoyable driving experience. In fact, once they’ve made the switch, we don’t see them go back,” Kelly said.
The total sample size was 2,054 adults surveyed online earlier this month online, weighted and representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
Image: Irene Miller on Shutterstock
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