Buying an electric car still isn’t as easy as it should be — and many new EV drivers say they still need a guiding hand to navigate the switch. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite national goals to go green, the gap between regions in the UK shows how uneven the EV revolution really is.
That’s according to Ginny Buckley, the well-known automotive journalist and co-founder of Electrifying.com, who recently shared her insights on the Car Dealer Podcast. She pointed to the results of her site’s latest consumer survey, which revealed that a major psychological and practical barrier for potential EV owners is one simple question: “Where can I charge it?”
Buckley explained that while places like Westminster now boast nearly 3,000 public chargers, many northern cities — including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, and Sheffield — are still far behind. Is it fair that access to clean transport depends so heavily on your postcode? She believes the government needs to take stronger action to make EVs more accessible across the UK, especially for those considering their first switch away from petrol or diesel.
In her conversation with hosts James Baggott and Jon Reay, Buckley noted: “We survey thousands of drivers every year with the AA — more than 13,000 last time — and the results are crystal clear. Nearly half still doubt their ability to drive an EV with confidence, and roughly two thirds admit they don’t fully understand the charging process.”
For newcomers, she said, hand-holding and education remain essential. “People still ask basic but important questions,” Buckley added. “How much range do I really need? Why does it shrink in winter? How do I charge at home versus in public?” Those uncertainties, she argued, stand in the way of wider adoption.
But the data exposes another worrying contrast: visibility and access to chargers. Buckley described the regional divide as ‘shocking,’ emphasizing that the south’s concentration of chargers is echoed by the higher proportion of EVs there. “We need national consistency,” she insisted. “Government leadership must go beyond promoting new EVs — the used EV market is the next frontier.”
The Electrifying.com survey found another surprising perception gap. Only 14% of drivers who don’t yet own an EV believe they are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars. And when asked about the government’s proposed pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles, 55% of respondents said it would discourage them from making the switch. Could this new tax be sending the wrong message about the country’s commitment to sustainability?
Critics, including Buckley herself, have called the policy “poorly thought through,” warning that it risks undermining years of progress in encouraging EV adoption. The Treasury, on the other hand, claims the charge is necessary to offset lost fuel-duty revenue — pointing out that EV drivers would still pay roughly half as much as petrol users.
AA president Edmund King, whose organization helped conduct the survey, echoed these concerns. “We still have a long way to go,” he said. “The early adopters have made the leap, but the majority of motorists need clear, trustworthy information and the right incentives before they follow.”
So, what do you think? Should the UK government take stronger control over charging infrastructure and incentives? Or is the market itself capable of closing the gap between regions? Share your thoughts — especially if you’re considering buying an EV — because this is one debate that affects the road ahead for us all.
