EV commuting more popular than ever in 2025

Mobilityways shares results of Commuter Census

The annual survey of UK commuting has revealed a notable increase in electric vehicle (EV) usage among UK commuters, with EV commuting rising across both solo driving and carpooling.  

Commuter Census, which gathered responses from 8,789 commuters, shows that 4.8% now drive to work alone in an EV – up from 3.6% in 2024 – while EV carpooling has increased from 1.1% to 1.7%.

This indicates renewed momentum in the transition to EVs after a plateau in 2024. The results are a promising sign for Mobilityways, which compiles Commuter Census. The mission of the climate tech organisation and social enterprise is to make zero-carbon commuting a reality. Mobilityways products and consultancy enable employers to measure, reduce and report their commuter emissions. 

The increase in EV commuting reflects broader market trends. According to the Climate Change Committee’s 2025 report, the number of electric cars on UK roads is doubling every two years, driven by the arrival of more affordable models and expanding charging infrastructure. 

The report states: “Price parity with petrol cars has already been reached in parts of the second-hand market,” which is a key factor in making EVs more accessible to everyday commuters. 

“The emissions saving from electric cars has been rising rapidly over recent years,” the report continues, “with a compound annual growth rate of 48% since 2022.” 

Despite the growth, cost remains the primary barrier to EV adoption. When asked what would encourage them to purchase an EV, 62% of Commuter Census respondents said: “Lower vehicle price”. This was followed by: “Cheaper public charging” (36%), “More public charging points” (34%), and “Increased range per charge” (32%). 

These findings suggest that while interest in EVs is growing, affordability and infrastructure are still critical to unlocking widespread adoption. 

The UK’s EV charging network is improving rapidly. Data from Zapmap, published by the Department for Transport, shows that the number of public EV charging points rose from 66,688 in August 2024 to 83,851 in August 2025 – a 26% increase in just one year. 

Julie Furnell, managing director of Mobilityways, said: “The infrastructure is catching up, and that’s crucial. We know from our data that commuters are ready to make the switch – they just need the right conditions. We’re helping organisations to measure, reduce and report their commuter emissions and improve travel options, and the transition to electric is an important piece of the puzzle for many employers. The opportunity for Scope 3 emissions reduction is huge, especially in large organisations.”

Driving alone to work rises for first time in three years

The annual survey of UK commuters from Mobilityways reveals that driving to work alone is on the rise again, reversing a post-pandemic trend toward more sustainable commuting.  

The number of respondents commuting alone in a petrol or diesel car has increased from 38% in 2024 to 40% in 2025, marking the first increase in solo driving since 2022. 

When including all fuel types – petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric – the total number of commuters driving alone has risen to 48%, up from 45% last year. While still below the pre-pandemic figure of 52%, this increase clearly shows that more people are returning to the car as their primary mode of commuting. 

This trend aligns with national traffic data, which shows road miles rose by 0.9% in the year up to March 2025 – equivalent to 2.2 billion miles, according to GOV.UK’s Provisional Road Traffic Estimates. 

Mobilityways enables large organisations to measure, reduce and report their commute emissions, with a particular focus on encouraging staff to get to work by sustainable methods. Driving to work alone is the least sustainable mode of commuting. 

Commuter Census 2025 found that commuters cite convenience, cost, and lack of viable alternatives as key reasons for driving alone. According to the RAC, 40% of drivers say they have no feasible alternative to the car – a figure that rises to 70% for those in rural areas. 

The rise in solo driving presents a challenge for organisations aiming to reduce Scope 3 emissions, tackle car parking demand and congestion. Although carpooling has risen from 15 to 16% and EV use has increased from 3.6 to 4.8% of respondents, the overall shift toward driving alone could undermine progress toward net-zero goals. 

Julie Furnell of Mobilityways said: “This is a wake-up call. We’ve seen progress in sustainable commuting over the past few years, but this increase in solo driving shows how easily it can be undone. Employers and policymakers must act now to reverse this trend. We need to make sustainable commuting the easiest option, not the hardest. That means better infrastructure, smarter incentives, and real support from employers. It isn’t possible for organisations to reach net zero without measuring and addressing their commuting emissions.”  

Considerable decline in bus commuting across the UK

The annual survey of UK commuters reveals a fascinating drop in bus use among UK commuters, with a 19% fall since 2024.  

Now in its fifth year, and with 8,789 respondents, Mobilityways Commuter Census has recorded that the increase in bus fares from £2 to £3 in January 2025 has had a measurable impact on commuter behaviour. 

There has been a near-complete reversal of the 17% increase in bus uptake recorded between 2023 and 2024 – when the £2 fare cap was put in place (January 2024). The findings highlight just how price-sensitive commuters are when it comes to public transport – and how quickly modal shifts can occur in response to policy changes. 

The Department for Transport’s own figures from the first half of 2025 support the trend recorded in Commuter Census, showing a decline in bus patronage since the fare cap was raised. While the cap remains in place, the increase to £3 appears to have pushed many commuters back into their cars – with driving alone rising for the first time since 2022, according to Commuter Census. 

Only 8.1% of respondents now commute by bus (including EV bus), down from 9.9% in the prior year. This drop is particularly concerning given the UK’s net-zero ambitions and the role public transport must play in reducing Scope 3 emissions. 

The fall in bus use could be due to a variety of other factors. In fact, 31% of respondents said they would consider switching to the bus as an alternative to their current commute. However, barriers such as reliability, availability, and journey time remain significant. 

When asked what would encourage them to switch to public transport, 16% of respondents cited the need for more reliable, regular, and direct services. Meanwhile, 9% said there was no public transport option available to them at all. 

“Commuters are clearly price-conscious,” said Julie Furnell. “In our experience working with large employers, we’ve seen how quickly commuter behaviour can shift when the right incentives are in place. This year’s data shows that when public transport is priced affordably, people will use it. The success of the £2 bus cap last year proved that affordability drives uptake. But when costs rise, even modestly, many revert to less sustainable options. This year’s reversal shows how fragile that progress can be without continued support.” 

The data sends a clear message to policymakers: pricing and service quality are critical to encouraging sustainable commuting. While the £2 fare cap was widely praised for boosting bus use, the increase to £3 has had the opposite effect. Employers, local authorities, and transport providers must work together to make public transport a viable and attractive option.

Mobilityways is a social enterprise and technology company on a mission to make zero carbon commuting a reality. Founded as Liftshare in 1998, Mobilityways was launched in 2021 to support employers meet their net-zero goals with its suite of climate tech tools. These tools enable companies to measure, reduce and report their commuter emissions, providing full visibility of commuting challenges and identifying sustainable travel alternatives for employees.