Electrical Vehicle (EV) Tracker

Half (52%) of UK EV drivers were satisfied with public chargepoint availability in their local area.

The Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned Ipsos to conduct the Electrical Vehicle (EV) Driver Tracker, a survey research programme designed to build a detailed understanding of real-world battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) ownership, charging behaviour and travel patterns.

The study was established to provide robust evidence on how drivers use their vehicles, the barriers and enablers they encounter, and the role of public and home charging in shaping the ownership experience. The findings help government understand where further improvements may be needed to support the continued uptake of BEVs and PHEVs across the UK. 

The Year 1 EV Tracker survey fieldwork took place between 7 and 24 November 2024 and was completed by 1,007 EV drivers across the UK. 

Our approach

Drawing on Ipsos' expertise in large-scale behavioural research and tracking studies, we designed and delivered a comprehensive research programme that combined a quantitative tracker survey with a travel and charging diary. This approach enabled us to capture both drivers' attitudes and their day-to-day experiences of vehicle use and charging. 

The study explored:

  • Driver demographics and vehicle ownership patterns.
  • How BEV and PHEV drivers use their vehicles for everyday and longer-distance travel.
  • Access to home and public charging.
  • Charging behaviours and preferences.
  • Experiences of public chargepoints.
  • Satisfaction, barriers and future ownership intentions. 

By bringing together behavioural, attitudinal and journey data, the research provided a rich evidence base on how BEVs and PHEVs are used in practice and how drivers interact with the charging network. 

What we found

The research found that BEV and PHEV ownership was generally associated with positive driving experiences and regular vehicle use. The majority of BEV and PHEV drivers used their vehicle at least once a week and had access to a method of charging at home, demonstrating how charging has become integrated into many drivers' day-to-day routines.

Nine percent of BEV drivers were entirely reliant on public charging. Among these drivers, the most commonly used charging locations were business or organisation car parks (27%), dedicated charging hubs (23%) and workplaces or schools (19%). Dedicated charging hubs were among the most frequently used public charging locations, with workplace charging also playing an important role.

Just over half (52%) of BEV and PHEV drivers were satisfied with the availability of public chargepoints in their local area. However, a substantial minority expressed dissatisfaction, with 24% dissatisfied with local chargepoint availability, 18% dissatisfied with availability at motorway locations and 22% dissatisfied with availability on A-roads.

More than half of drivers reported confidence in taking long-distance journeys, but many also highlighted challenges including unclear pricing (55%), concerns about chargepoint reliability (49%) and insufficient charging provision relative to demand (47%).

When considering how the public charging network could be improved, respondents most commonly selected cheaper charging prices (47%), faster charging speeds (45%) and improved reliability (29%). These findings underline the importance of continued investment in charging infrastructure that is affordable, dependable and capable of supporting growing demand as adoption of BEVs and PHEVs increases.

Impact

The EV Driver Tracker provides the Department for Transport with an ongoing evidence base to support policy development and investment decisions relating to BEVs, PHEVs and charging infrastructure. By tracking experiences over time, the research enables government to understand how driver needs evolve as adoption grows and the transport system continues to decarbonise. The findings are helping to inform decisions that support the development of a reliable charging ecosystem, improve the driver experience and facilitate the UK's transition to lower-emission transport. 

Further reading

EV Driver Tracker: Year 1 findings, developed by Ipsos UK for the Department for Transport. 

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