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🚗⚡ UK DRIVERS: WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT ELECTRIC CARS?

Love EVs? Hate them? Still undecided? Or happily sticking with petrol or diesel? Now you’re being asked to have your say. 👀

EVA England has launched its annual national survey, inviting every type of UK driver to share their experience and opinions on the future of driving.

And the timing is interesting. ⚡

The debate around electric cars is getting bigger, with questions over vehicle prices, charging costs, infrastructure, taxation and whether Britain is really ready for a major shift to electric driving.

Last year, EVA England found that 66% of petrol and diesel drivers were actively considering an EV. This year’s survey comes as the Government considers changes to EV sales targets and prepares for the new eVED tax on electric vehicles from 2028.

So what is actually stopping people from switching?

💷 Is it the purchase price?
🔌 Public charging costs?
🏠 Not having a driveway?
🛣️ Range and long-distance journeys?
🧾 Future EV taxation?
♿ Charging accessibility?
⛽ Or do petrol and diesel cars simply still work better for your lifestyle?

The survey also wants to hear from EV drivers about their real-world experiences — including disabled motorists. EVA England says only around 2% of EV charging points nationally are compliant with accessibility standards.

The organisation says feedback from last year's survey helped support calls for improvements to chargepoint accessibility, easier home charging for people without driveways and action on expensive public charging.

Now, it wants an even bigger picture.

The survey is being supported across the UK by EVA Cymru, EVA Northern Ireland and EVA Scotland, with findings intended to be shared with policymakers, industry and the public.

⏱️ It takes around 5 minutes to complete and runs until 16 September.

And here's the big question:

Should the future of British motoring be shaped by government targets and industry plans — or by what drivers actually say they need? 🤔

Whether you're already driving electric or have zero intention of switching, your experience matters.

👇 If you could change ONE thing about electric cars in the UK, what would it be?

Its ok I'll only be a minute when they've be there 3hr😩💢

🚗 **Could Belfast be about to become much harder to drive through?** 👀

Cars could face restrictions across parts of **Belfast city centre** under new plans being prepared by Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins.

The idea gained momentum after the **Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann**, when several streets were closed to traffic — and more than **1.6 million people visited Belfast during the eight-day festival.** 🎶

Officials say the temporary restrictions showed what a more pedestrian-friendly city centre could look like. Now, a **public consultation** is being planned on expanding pedestrianisation. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

The proposals could follow a similar direction to London’s Oxford Street plans, where private vehicles are being removed from a major section of the shopping district.

But there’s an important catch: **no final roads have been confirmed, and no permanent ban has been decided yet.** The consultation will give residents, businesses, motorists and other groups the chance to have their say.

The minister says the ambition is to create more attractive and accessible city centres while reducing dependence on cars — but accessibility for everyone will also need to be considered.

🔥 **So what do you think?**

Should Belfast put pedestrians first and restrict cars in the city centre?
Or would this make life harder for drivers, workers and local businesses?

👇 **Would you support more pedestrianisation in Belfast?**

🚲💷 £7 FOR A 20-MINUTE E-BIKE RIDE? SOUTHWARK IS SLASHING THE PRICE… BUT THERE’S A CATCH! 👀

Shared e-bikes have exploded across London — but so have the complaints. 🚲💥

Now Southwark Council has struck a new deal with Lime, Voi and Forest that could make riding significantly cheaper for local residents and key workers.

Under the plan, a 20-minute journey will be capped at £1.75 — compared with standard pay-as-you-go prices that can reach around £7. That's a potential 75% saving. 💷

But this isn't just about cheaper rides.

Southwark has seen e-bike use surge by 356% in two years, with riders making 8.2 million trips in 2025. 🚀

And with that growth have come some familiar complaints:

🚧 Bikes blocking pavements
🔔 Alarms disturbing residents at night
🚴 Concerns about irresponsible riding
♿ Footpaths becoming harder to navigate

So the new agreement comes with tougher rules.

The operators will help fund enforcement, residents will get dedicated reporting channels for badly parked bikes, and 350 designated parking bays will be introduced across the borough.

There will also be monthly rider training sessions aimed at improving confidence and safety on London's busy roads.

The big question is whether this could become a model for the rest of the capital. 🤔

Because shared e-bikes clearly offer a convenient alternative to short car journeys — and cheaper fares could make them even more popular.

But if more bikes hit the streets without proper parking and enforcement, will the pavement problems simply get worse?

💬 Would you use a shared e-bike more often if a 20-minute ride cost just £1.75?

And more importantly…

👇 Should every e-bike have to be parked in a designated bay?

🚗🇨🇳 HALF OF UK DRIVERS WOULD NOW CONSIDER A CHINESE CAR — AND THE OLD BADGE LOYALTY MAY BE CRACKING! 👀

Not long ago, many UK drivers wouldn't even consider buying a Chinese car.

Now? Almost half say they would. 🇨🇳🚘

According to Carwow's latest research, 49% of UK motorists would consider a Chinese brand for their next car.

That's a dramatic jump from:

📈 24% in 2023
📈 35% last year
🔥 49% now

So what's changed?

For many buyers, it appears to come down to one simple thing: value for money. 💷

With car prices remaining high, more drivers are looking beyond the badge and asking:

"What am I actually getting for my money?" 🤔

Carwow says 42% of drivers considering a Chinese car now cite value for money as a major reason. More technology, more equipment and competitive prices are clearly helping to change perceptions.

And the sales figures suggest this isn't just talk. 📊

The Jaecoo 7 has become one of Britain's most popular new cars, with more registrations so far in 2026 than many long-established brands.

Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers including BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda and Chery are becoming increasingly familiar names on UK roads.

Brand awareness is also growing fast:

🚗 BYD: 28% awareness in 2023 → 71% today
🚙 Jaecoo: 46% → 69% in just 12 months
📈 Chery: 16% → 50%

The bigger shift, however, may be psychological.

For decades, many buyers stuck with familiar badges. Ford. Volkswagen. BMW. Audi. Toyota.

But with newer brands offering plenty of technology and competitive pricing, more drivers appear willing to take a chance.

Of course, buying a car isn't just about the purchase price. 🔧

Questions around long-term reliability, servicing, parts availability and resale values will still matter to buyers.

But one thing is becoming difficult to ignore:

Chinese car brands are no longer just knocking on the UK's door… they're already inside the market. 🇬🇧🚗🇨🇳

💬 Would YOU buy a Chinese car if it offered more equipment for £10,000 less than a traditional brand?

Or would you still stick with the badges you know?👇!

⚡🚗 AN EV EXPERT SAYS: “DON’T BUY ONE YET!” — BUT DOES THE MATH ACTUALLY ADD UP? 🤔

Everyone seems to have an opinion on EVs.

Some say they’re the future. Others say buying one could be a financial disaster. So when a transport industry expert with 20 years of experience says “wait before buying an EV”, it’s worth looking at the numbers.

But here's the problem… 📊

The numbers can tell very different stories depending on what you include.

💷 Purchase price?
New EVs can still cost more than equivalent petrol models. But heavy depreciation has also created a growing used EV market, with many models now available at far lower prices.

⚡ Charging costs?
Charge cheaply at home overnight and an EV can be extremely affordable. Rely on expensive rapid chargers, however, and those savings can shrink dramatically.

🏠 Where you live matters.
For someone with a driveway, charging can be as simple as plugging in before bed. For someone in a flat or without off-street parking, it can be a completely different experience.

🛞 Tyres and insurance?
EVs are often heavier and can wear tyres faster, especially with enthusiastic driving. Insurance can also be higher for some drivers. But these costs vary massively depending on the vehicle and driver.

And then there's the BIG one… 📉

DEPRECIATION.

A car can save you money on fuel and servicing — but if it loses thousands more in value, those savings can disappear fast.

That's why there is no universal answer.

An EV could make perfect sense if you have:

✅ Cheap home charging
✅ Predictable journeys
✅ Company car tax advantages
✅ A good used-car deal

But the calculation could look very different if you:

❌ Depend on expensive public charging
❌ Drive long distances regularly
❌ Need to tow
❌ Face high insurance costs
❌ Buy a model with heavy depreciation

The biggest mistake isn't buying an EV.

It's buying any car without doing your own maths first. 🚗💷

Because if someone tells you EVs are always cheaper — be sceptical.

And if someone tells you EVs are always a financial mistake — be sceptical of that too.

💬 Have YOU done the maths? Is your EV cheaper — or more expensive — than your previous petrol or diesel car?

👇 Share your real-world experience!

Just pure laziness This peeves me off here,a footpath is now for parked cars.

Perfect single line parking T**T 🤌

🚨⚡ THE UK HELPED PUSH DRIVERS TOWARDS EVs… NOW A PAY-PER-MILE TAX COULD BE NEXT!

For years, electric cars came with a major advantage: lower running costs and favourable taxes. But as more drivers move away from petrol and diesel, the Government faces a growing problem…

💷 Where will the lost fuel duty money come from?

According to the proposed plans, from April 2028, EV drivers could face a new electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) based on how far they drive.

🚗 Fully electric cars: 3p per mile
🔌 Plug-in hybrids: 1.5p per mile
📈 Rates could rise with inflation from 2029.

Drivers would declare their mileage when renewing road tax, with odometer readings checked through the MOT system.

The argument is simple: EVs use the roads too, so should they contribute towards maintaining them?

But the timing is causing serious debate. 🤔

The fleet and leasing industry has criticised the proposal, warning it could add significant costs and administration for businesses operating large numbers of vehicles.

And here's the bigger question…

Governments across Europe face the same challenge. As petrol and diesel cars disappear, so does the fuel duty revenue that has helped fund public spending and transport infrastructure for decades.

So is pay-per-mile the fairest replacement? Or is it a risky move while many drivers are still deciding whether to go electric? ⚡

Critics say introducing another tax could make hesitant buyers think twice — especially after years of being encouraged to switch.

Supporters argue that eventually, every vehicle will need to contribute in some way, regardless of whether it runs on petrol, diesel or electricity.

🚨 The real danger may not be the idea of road-use charging itself…

It could be getting the timing and system wrong.

The UK could become a major test case — and the rest of Europe may be watching closely. 🌍

💬 Would a 3p-per-mile charge stop you from buying an EV?

👇 Comment YES, NO, or FAIR IF EVERYONE PAYS.

🚨 UK EV TARGETS COULD BE CUT — Is the Government Finally Admitting Demand Isn't Keeping Up? ⚡🚗

The UK's electric vehicle transition could be heading for a major rethink.

The Government has opened a consultation on potentially watering down interim EV sales targets, with reports suggesting the 2030 target could fall from 80% to as low as 50%.

That would be a huge shift. 👀

EV sales are still rising. More than 327,000 battery-electric cars were reportedly sold in Britain during the first seven months of the year — accounting for over a quarter of new registrations.

But there's a problem… 📉

Under the current rules, 33% of new cars sold in 2026 must be zero-emission. Yet EV market share is still below that level, meaning manufacturers are facing increasing pressure to hit targets.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says the regulations are now running ahead of current consumer demand and wants the system reviewed.

And that creates a major debate. 💬

Supporters of reform argue that manufacturers shouldn't be forced to rely on massive discounts and incentives to hit regulatory targets.

They say drivers should have more freedom to choose the car that suits their budget and lifestyle — whether that's electric, hybrid, petrol or diesel.

But the charging industry sees the other side of the argument. ⚡

Companies have invested heavily in Britain's charging network based partly on expectations that EV numbers would continue growing rapidly. They warn that weakening the targets could create uncertainty and potentially slow investment in charging infrastructure.

So what's the answer? 🤔

🚗 Keep ambitious targets to push the transition forward?

OR…

📉 Adjust the targets to better match what consumers are actually buying?

The Government says the long-term direction towards zero-emission motoring remains unchanged.

But the route there could be about to change dramatically.

💬 Should the UK reduce its EV sales targets — or stick to the original plan and let the market catch up?

👇 Comment: REFORM or STAY THE COURSE.