Drivers charging their electric vehicles at home are now pocketing nearly £1,000 a year in fuel savings compared to petrol car owners.

The new data, compiled by Autotrader and Zapmap, reveals that annual EV running cost savings surged by £180 year-on-year to hit £960 in July. The sharp increase follows sustained hikes in petrol prices at British pumps, triggered by ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

The news comes as Autotrader, ChargeUK and the SMMT release the quarterly update of the Electric Cars: The Facts campaign, which is designed to combat misinformation surrounding EVs and endorsed by the Department for Transport.

The latest info shows the widening cost gap has driven unprecedented interest in electrified transport. For the first time on record, electrified models captured more than half (50.1%) of all new car enquiries on the Autotrader marketplace in July, with electric cars taking 29.1% and plug-in hybrid cars taking 20.8%.

Since March, EVs have consistently taken at least one in five of all used car enquiries, up from around 16% previously, and in the new car market, electric has consistently been the most popular fuel type since April.

The campaign, which now includes Octopus Electroverse among the coalition, also shows that there are now 46 new EVs with a recommended retail price (RRP) below £30,000, up from 38 in January.

More than one in five (21%) used EVs on Autotrader is now priced £15,000 and below, down from 26% in May. And 43% are now £20,000 and below – up from 40% in January.

Charging infrastructure also continues to grow. There are now 122,724 charging plugs available in the UK public network, up from 120,338 in May.

But further action is still needed to tackle significant barriers to wider market adoption.

Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, said: “Whilst consumer interest in electric is growing, there are still barriers to further adoption. Sales are still behind official ZEV mandate targets, in 2028 more than half of all new car sales need to be electric, and pay per mile tax increases for EV drivers are looming.”

Palmer continued: “It’s a busy time in the electric car market and we’re beginning to see sustained levels of growth in electric interest on Autotrader, both in the new and used sectors. In the used electric market, pricing is actually increasing on 2025 levels as demand remains robust and supply continues its recovery. It’s really encouraging to see running cost savings are maintaining the record levels we’ve seen since springtime, almost a thousand pounds a year is a substantial saving for households to consider.

“Our goal is to give car buyers The Facts so they can make the best choice for their own circumstances, and we’re thrilled to welcome Octopus Electroverse to join us in this endeavour. We recognise electric cars might not fit every buyer’s needs just yet, but we hope The Facts gives drivers the right information, and therefore confidence, to make the switch.”

Matt Davies, founder of Octopus Electroverse, added: “Not long ago, charging away from home felt like a massive hurdle for drivers looking to switch. Today, public chargers are everywhere, technology is better than ever, and – when combined with home charging – saving nearly £1,000 a year on fuel makes electric the undeniable choice. The biggest barrier left isn’t infrastructure or range, it’s simply a lack of clear information.

“We’re proud to join Electric Cars: The Facts to strip away the hassle, bust the outdated myths, and give drivers the data and confidence they need to go electric.”