Lots of misinformation surrounds the electric car vs internal combustion engine car debate. While there are some reasonable arguments, many traditional drivers feel viscerally against the idea of changing their habits. Government incentives are used to increase the adoption of renewable motoring; however, this spending continues to divide opinions. This article explores the polarised nation of drivers, their main obstacles and the support of government grants.
Brits were either strongly for or against electric vehicles.
Upfront cost, running costs charging and practicality all come into play.
The UK government offers up to £350 to install at home charging points for EVs.
Brits are divided again with many strong opinions on EVs and state incentives.
No motoring topic has been more divisive over the past decade than the uptake of electric vehicles. On the one hand, they dramatically reduce fuel costs, CO2 emissions and can be more comfortable to drive. However, the upfront cost of EVs is still double that of their ICE counterparts , there are still environmental concerns about sourcing raw materials and drivers are reluctant to change their driving habits.
In a recent study conducted by ALA (September 2025), 41% strongly favoured EV ownership, saying they were very likely to buy one or already had one. The same proportion (42%) strongly disfavoured electric vehicles – they would be very unlikely to buy one
In fact, the results were so clearly polarised that only 17% took a neutral or mild stance towards electric cars.
While there are logical arguments for and against electric cars, such as cost, driving experience, practicality, sustainability and comfort. However, many seem to illogically oppose electric vehicles, providing little tangible explanation for the strong aversion.
Electric vehicles can be off-putting for many reasons; they are expensive to buy, can be impractical to charge and costly to repair if something goes wrong unexpectedly.
Electric Vehicles can be less practical than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) because you need to wait for them to charge, and if you need to charge mid-journey, it can be stressful finding a charging point along the way, especially if you’re in a remote location. Solutions involve installing a home charging point and increasing the number of public charging points.
We asked British drivers whether they thought home charging, or the inability to charge at home, was a significant barrier to owning an EV; the results were divided. 47% considered it a high barrier. Meanwhile, 35% ranked it low.
It’s no surprise that public charging incurs a much higher cost – it can be up to 20x more expensive to charge at a public point. Also, you will have to wait for your car or leave it to charge while you do something else. 47% considered public charging a high barrier; meanwhile, it was a medium barrier for 37%. Overall, public charging is considered a greater barrier than home charging. In fact, 69% think there aren’t enough public EV charging points in the UK.
Cost is a primary deterrent to buying an EV. However, there are considerable savings to be made in running costs. The majority (70%) believe that EVs are less affordable than ICEs, with only 18% % saying they are more affordable.
68% considered the upfront costs to be a significant barrier to owning an EV, but fuel costs were a low barrier for 45%. Finally, insurance costs were a high barrier for 44%, meanwhile maintenance costs were a low barrier (45%).
While electric vehicles can be more reliable than ICEs, being more modern cars, their parts can be 25% more expensive to repair than their traditional counterparts. Having an EV warranty policy in place can offer peace of mind that expensive repairs are covered.
With net zero goals in mind for 2050, the UK government has introduced several subsidies and grants to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles over ICEs. Discounts, fleet incentives, and tax reliefs are some ways the government has tried to encourage a shift towards renewable motoring.
Most recently, Kier Starmer’s government has introduced grants of up to £350 towards installing home charging stations for electric vehicles. Being able to charge your EV at home dramatically increases the practicality of owning an electric car, but also reduces the fuel costs twentyfold. It is estimated that Brits could save hundreds of pounds per year by charging their car at home.
However, the cost to install a home charging station is between £800 and £1,500 , leaving a considerable amount for you to pay. It may take several years to see your investment return to your bank account.
We asked British drivers how supportive they were of this particular grant for home charging points, and at first glance, the results were neutral. The average level of support was 49%.
When we break this down further, we get very different insights. 38% were strongly opposed to the grant (0-20% supportive). Meanwhile 32% were in strong support of the grant (80%-100% supportive). A significant proportion remained neutral (40%-60% supportive) on the topic (23%).
We also asked the same cohort to tell us why they provided their answer, and the sentiments are also quite divided. Some common themes identified included criticism of government spending and worries of taxation, effective incentives for EV adoption and scepticism of electric cars in general. Explore the most prominent themes identified.
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