Octopus Electric Vehicles and the Fully Charged Show have teamed up to launch ‘Electric Vehicles UK’, a new group dedicated to providing the facts on EVs.

Electric Vehicles UK will help drivers access EV facts against a backdrop of sometimes conflicting information

The new industry body will cut through the hype and myths to help drivers access the truths about electric vehicles against a backdrop of sometimes conflicting information.

Registrations of pure EVs have plateaued as a percentage of new sales in the UK over the last 12 months, as government messaging and a rise of online misinformation has caused drivers to hesitate in making the switch.

However, satisfaction among EV drivers remains high, with new research from Octopus showing that 96% of EV owners plan to buy another electric car. Furthermore, almost half of non-EV drivers would like their next car to be electric, and are looking for trusted advice and experts to help them make the switch.

Electric Vehicles UK will help drivers steer a course through the misinformation and work to better inform those looking to switch to electric cars.

More than 120 senior professionals from across the UK’s EV, renewables and green tech sectors attended the launch event at Octopus HQ in London, where Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy Group, urged the industry to help drivers discover the very clear advantages of EVs.

Speaking at the event, interim CEO Dan Caesar, who will head up the initiative for the first year, explained: “Electric vehicles have become something of a lightning rod for headline writers, guaranteeing as they do, a significant number of hits. Through multiple surveys on the subject, we know that nine out of 10 battery EV drivers won’t go back to combustion engine vehicles. Meanwhile, almost 50% of ICE drivers are considering switching to electric, so there’s a clear disconnect between the headlines and lived experience.

“By uniting under the ‘Electric Vehicles UK’ brand we believe we can be much more effective in communicating information and factual evidence of the good, and the bad, aspects of EV ownership.”

Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “As the UK’s largest electric-only leasing company, we see first-hand how much drivers love these cars. They’re cheaper to run, packed with the latest tech and great fun to drive. But we know that misinformation, or a lack of clarity at least, is holding some potential buyers back.

“We are proud to be the lead partner for ‘Electric Vehicles UK’, and to enable the industry to better communicate the benefits of electric car ownership.”