A few years ago, choosing an electric car felt like a bold move.
There were questions around range, charging, battery life and whether the whole thing would really stick. That uncertainty has faded. What was once a niche option has become a serious, mainstream choice, and it’s changing quickly. There’s more confidence in the technology now, but also in the practical side of living with it day to day.
From accessible home chargers to finding a reliable EV cables supplier UK, the setup is so much simpler than it used to be. Electric cars used to cost a lot more, not just to buy but also to justify. There was always the sense you were paying extra for tech that was still catching up, but that gap has narrowed quickly. Over the past year, prices in the UK have dropped across many models, and more competition and pressure to clear older stock have made a noticeable difference.
In some cases, electric models are now cheaper than their petrol versions when you look at total monthly costs.
More options and better availability
There’s now a wide range of electric cars to choose from, and it covers much more than just hatchbacks or luxury saloons.
Family cars, small SUVs, estates and even people carriers and vans are all available with proper electric platforms and good usable range. Improvements in EV battery technology have made real world range more reliable, even in colder months or during motorway driving. Several mid range models now reach around 250 miles on a full charge without needing a perfect set of conditions to do it. Lead times have also improved, just a couple of years ago getting hold of certain electric models meant sitting on a waitlist for months.
Now many popular models are in stock, and dealers are offering better prices on cars that are already built. In a lot of cases, ordering a made to measure version takes longer and costs more than choosing one already on the forecourt.
Charging is more straightforward than it used to be
Public charging has improved steadily over the last year, especially on motorways and in larger towns. There are now more rapid and ultra rapid chargers being installed, and most of the newer ones are more reliable, better maintained and quicker to use. Most energy providers now offer home tariffs designed around overnight charging, so it’s easy to make sure the car is ready to go by morning without paying peak rates. Even a basic home setup gives a full battery by the next day for a fraction of what it would cost to fill a tank.
Used electric cars are no longer a gamble
The second hand electric market has grown up a lot. It used to feel like a risk, especially with early models where battery performance could be unpredictable and there weren’t many garages that knew how to assess them properly. Now there’s much more support, and dealers have had time to build knowledge around servicing, resale and battery health.
A steady supply of electric vehicles coming off lease has helped as well. These cars are usually well maintained with consistent mileage and detailed history, and the prices have come down to meet demand. For buyers who want to avoid the higher upfront cost of a new car, this part of the market is much easier to navigate than it was even a couple of years ago. Even if buying new, a more stable used market gives reassurance about future resale value. The steep early depreciation that worried buyers in the past has levelled off now that electric models are becoming more mainstream.
Petrol and diesel support is ending
The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in 2035, but even before that date arrives, manufacturers are already shifting priorities. Several major brands are planning to go fully electric well before the deadline, and new development of traditional engines is slowing down.
This matters when thinking about long term ownership. Support, parts and servicing will still be available for petrol cars for a while, but the focus is clearly elsewhere. There’s also the risk that resale values for petrol and diesel cars will dip over time as more cities introduce restrictions and buyers start to move away from older technologies. Electric cars are moving in the other direction with manufacturers investing in improving them.