London drivers four times more likely to opt for electric than those in South West

New data released this week reveals how drivers in the British regions differ dramatically when it comes to planning their next car purchase.

Research for Kwik Fit, the UK’s leading automotive service and repair company, has found that over a quarter (27%) of drivers in London expect to buy either a new or used fully electric vehicle (EV) as their next car.  

This is almost four times as many as in the South West region where the figure is just 7% - approximately one in every 14 drivers.1

The West Midlands has seen many developments in the British motor industry over the decades, and many drivers there also appear ready to embrace EVs. The region is second only to London, with more than one in five (22%) planning to opt for electric power for their next car.

The data indicates that the regions where EVs are most prevalent will remain so. London and the West Midlands top the table for current - as well as planned - EV ownership, with one in eleven (9%) drivers in these areas already owning an EV.  

Conversely, those regions where the lowest number of drivers own EVs are the areas where the biggest challenges remain in convincing new and used car buyers to consider the switch to electric.  Only 3% of drivers in each of the South West, Yorkshire and Humberside, and South East regions currently drive an EV, and these areas are also bottom of the table when looking at motorists’ future plans.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, says the figures highlight the need for consistent support for drivers across the country. He said: “Government and industry need to work together to ensure that some regions are not left behind as the national car parc transitions over the coming years. One could assume that the different driving patterns or traffic levels in different areas could lead to contrasting attitudes towards EVs, but the fact that the South West and the South East regions have very similar results show it’s not as simple as that. 

“Infrastructure varies across the country, but not always in the way you might think. For instance, Government data shows that there are three times more public EV charging devices per head in Cornwall or North Devon than there are in Basildon or Tunbridge Wells. Every driver will have their own reasons for choosing the car they do, but it’s important to ensure that they are making their decisions on the basis of equal opportunities.” 

Once drivers have made the change to electric, the research shows that they are highly unlikely to go back to an internal combustion engine (ICE) car.  Some 80% of EV drivers said their next car would also be fully electric, with only one in ten planning to buy a petrol or diesel engined vehicle.  In comparison, 46% of petrol engine car drivers say they will be sticking with the same fuel for their next car, while for diesel car owners the figure is 35%.  

Roger Griggs says: “The data shows that the vast majority of drivers who have switched to EVs are now going to stick with electric power.  The long term direction of travel for the nation’s car parc seems clear, but our roads are going to have a mix of ICE, hybrid and electric cars for many years to come so it’s vital that drivers of all types of vehicle are supported in ensuring they are running as efficiently as possible.”

Kwik Fit provides servicing for all types of vehicle and has one of the largest networks of EV trained auto technicians in the UK. In order to find the range of services offered at their nearest Kwik Fit centre drivers can contact the centre directly. Details of your nearest centres are available here.

Note to editors

Sources:

1.  Research carried out by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults in October 2024.
2. DfT - Electric vehicle charging devices by local authority July 2024.
   

About Kwik Fit

Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MOT specialist. Details of its range of products and services can be found at kwik-fit.com