It comes as the worth of petrol and diesel soars
Electrical and hybrid vehicles variations defined by knowledgeable
Motorists are being urged to rethink what they drive as hovering gasoline costs and document EV gross sales mix to create what specialists name a “no-brainer” shift.
Demand for electrical and hybrid autos has surged to unprecedented ranges, with March changing into the strongest month on document for electrified automobile registrations. A complete of 196,059 electrified autos have been registered, based on figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT), underlining a dramatic shift in client behaviour.
RAC figures present petrol costs have rocketed to a mean of 157.02 per litre – the very best since Might 2024 – after leaping greater than 12% in simply 5 weeks amid the Iran battle. Some drivers have even been hit with costs exceeding £2 per litre.
Diesel has climbed much more steeply to 189.42p per litre, its costliest degree since December 2022. In opposition to this backdrop, specialists say the economics of switching have gotten more and more compelling.
Tony Redondo, founding father of Cosmos Forex Change, advised Newspage: “The UK’s record-breaking March for electrified autos is a pure response to the seismic shift in power prices.”
He added the rise in the price of petrol meant “the ‘no-brainer’ argument for EVs is strengthening”. Electrical autos now provide considerably decrease working prices per mile. Mr Redondo calculates that EVs price roughly 6p per mile, in stark distinction to petrol vehicles which run at round 17p per mile.
It comes as drivers are being hammered on the pumps (Picture: Getty) Motoring information and recommendation plus chosen affords and competitions Subscribe Invalid electronic mail
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That hole is proving decisive for a lot of households already underneath monetary strain. The surge is being felt throughout all varieties of electrified autos.
- Battery electrical autos (BEVs) jumped 24.2% to 86,120 registrations
- Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) surged 46.9%, taking a 13% market share
- Hybrid electrical autos (HEVs) rose 7.3%, accounting for 15.8% of the market
The checklist of best-selling EVs embrace Tesla’s Mannequin Y, and Mannequin 3, the MG4, the Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4 and China’s BYD fashions
SMMT chief govt Mike Hawes stated: “The strongest new automobile market since 2019, with the very best ever quantity of EV registrations, is a lift to the trade and the financial system.”
On the identical time, falling costs are making the swap extra accessible. Knowledge from the AA Vehicles Used Automotive Index reveals the typical price of the 20 most in-demand used EVs and hybrids dropped to £16,553 within the first quarter of 2026 – down 1.7% on the earlier quarter and seven.1% decrease than a yr in the past.
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James Hosking, managing director of AA Vehicles, stated: “Used EV and hybrid costs continued to melt… serving to make low-emission vehicles extra attainable for a wider group of patrons.”
He added that fashions such because the Toyota Yaris hybrid, Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe are seeing significantly sturdy demand within the used market. For many who have already made the swap, the advantages are quick.
Steven Greenall, a mortgage and safety adviser, stated: “I transitioned from a diesel to an EV again in October 2025 and could not be happier with it.” He added: “With the surge in gasoline costs just lately it has been very satisfying as we’re in a position to cost at house. Every single day you permit the home with ‘a full tank’ and who drives over 200 miles a day?”
However specialists warning the transition shouldn’t be with out challenges. Katrina Younger, digital transformation strategist at KYC Digital, stated: “The economics are clear… however the swap shouldn’t be simple.” She warned: “Charging infrastructure is fragmented… Lengthy journeys require planning that petrol drivers have by no means wanted to consider.”
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