Have we reached an EV tipping point?

Rising fuel prices are making take a serious look at electric cars, says The Car Expert’s Stuary Masson

British drivers are once again facing rising fuel costs as geopolitical tensions push oil prices upwards. This latest surge could mark a ‘tipping point’ in how motorists approach their next car purchase.

Unleaded petrol is approaching £1.50 per litre, diesel is nearing £1.70, and oil prices are edging towards $120 a barrel. For a typical UK driver covering 8,000 miles per year, that already represents an additional £200 to £300 annually compared to January 2026 – three months ago.

For decades, these spikes have followed a familiar pattern – most recently after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when petrol prices nearly hit £2 per litre. But this time, the market has changed, analysis from The Car Expert has found.

Every time there’s a global crisis, UK drivers feel it almost immediately at the pumps. The difference now is that, for the first time, a clear majority of new car buyers, and a much larger number of used car buyers, actually have a viable alternative.

The UK electric car parc has expanded rapidly since 2022, with around two million EVs expected on the road by the end of 2026. Greater model choice, improved finance offers and a growing used market have made switching more accessible than ever. Charging infrastructure has also improved significantly, with around 120,000 public chargepoints now available nationwide.

For drivers with access to home charging, the cost benefits are substantial. Charging typically costs around £250-£300 per year for 8,000 miles, compared to more than £1,800 for a petrol car at current prices.

If you can charge at home, the maths is already very clear. You’re looking at savings of well over £1,000 a year, and that gap only grows every time fuel prices spike.

Concerns around range are also easing. The average new electric car now offers around 280 miles of range, with many exceeding 300 miles – more than enough for typical UK driving habits, where the average weekly driving is about 120 miles and 99% of all journeys are less than 100 miles (UK Government figure). 

However, barriers remain. Drivers without off-street parking often face significantly higher public charging costs, while infrastructure reliability still varies across the country. It’s not a perfect solution for everyone yet. Public charging can still be expensive and inconsistent, which means the cost advantage isn’t there for all drivers.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has also warned that rising energy costs could contribute to higher inflation, adding further pressure on household budgets. As a result, the current crisis is unlikely to trigger an immediate mass shift to electric vehicles. Most consumers change cars at the end of finance agreements rather than in response to short-term events.

People don’t suddenly go out and change their car because of the news.But these moments do influence what they choose next when the time comes. About two million new buyers – both private and fleet customers – will be changing their cars this year, along with millions of near-new car buyers. They’re going to be looking at their numbers more closely than ever.

Drivers have put up with this cycle for 50 years because they didn’t have a choice, but now they do. How many of them buying a car this year will decide that they’ve had enough of being held hostage at the petrol pump?

Instead, The Car Expert believes repeated fuel price shocks are reinforcing a clear long-term pattern, with fossil fuel costs remaining volatile compared to the relative stability of electric driving. For the first time, that message is landing in a market where electric vehicles are widely available and increasingly affordable – potentially changing the direction of future car buying decisions.

Stuart Masson is editorial director at The Car Expert, an automotive consumer advice platform reaching over two million readers annually
thecarexpert.co.uk