Fuel prices drive EV demand as pump anxiety replaces range anxiety
Fri, 26 Jun 2026
Sky-high fuel prices are prompting more drivers to consider making the switch to electric cars, with new AA figures suggesting the balance has tipped further in favour of EV ownership.
It says motorists able to charge at home can now drive for around two-thirds less per mile than petrol and diesel car owners, while concerns over fuel costs are beginning to outweigh fears about EV range.
The results are part of the AA's UK EV Readiness Index, a quarterly publication it began in September 2025, which scores factors including the upfront costs of buying an EV, issues around charging and the price of maintenance and gives a combined EV Readiness Rating out of 100.
Ready, steady, charge
According to the AA, switching to an EV is now favourable for more drivers, but conditions need to improve to increase demand for mass adoption.
Driving the change is a switch from range anxiety to "pump anxiety", where drivers of combustion-engined cars face ever-higher prices to fill up – the AA noting the average has jumped 20% since its last ratings were published.
As a result, the AA says that searches for used EVs on its AA Cars platform went up by 78% between March and May, compared with the previous three months. The Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model 3 and Kia Niro EV were the most searched for models.
"Range anxiety has shifted to pump anxiety as global petrol and diesel prices have rocketed since the Iran conflict began," says AA president, Edmund King.
"For years, some drivers have been put off EVs by real or perceived range anxiety. But this latest Index suggests the bigger concern for many households is becoming pump anxiety. When global fuel prices rise sharply, drivers feel it immediately at the forecourt."
Change still not a given
Despite the uptick in searches for used EVs and the cost of buying and running one falling, the AA adds that major barriers to EV adoption remain.
The cost of buying an electric car is still high when compared to a petrol-powered equivalent. Used EV demand is also driving prices up, as the price of fuel has mean that used EVs have gone from being 10% cheaper than petrol equivalents in Q1 to 3% more expensive in Q2, according to the AA's data.
The AA also noted that rapid public charging is still 15% more expensive per mile than petrol, leaving a significant gap between drivers with access to home charging and those who depend on the public charging network.
