Brits could save £41,000+ on fuel in a lifetime by switching to an EV
- British motorists will spend, on average, over a whopping £56,000* on petrol in their lifetime
- More than two thirds (68 per cent) of Brits travel further than their nearest petrol station to get a better price
- The average cost of charging an electric vehicle over a lifetime is just over £15,000** – a potential saving of over £41,000!
The average British motorist will spend over a staggering £56,000 on petrol in a lifetime, according to new figures. With the average lifetime cost of charging an electric vehicle coming in at just over £15,000, savvy Brits could save over £41,000 on fuel by going electric in the near future.
New research by EDF Energy, found that the cost to travel by car is a serious concern for the British public, with over two thirds (68 per cent) having travelled further than their nearest petrol station to find a better deal on fuel. Over a third (35 per cent) even admitted that the thought of how much they spend on fuel puts them off driving.
The study of 2,000 Brits uncovered that many felt they would be able to travel more and see more of the country if the cost of fuel wasn’t such a barrier. A quarter (24 per cent) said that fuel costs had prevented them from driving somewhere in the past and a fifth (21 per cent) have had to cut back on holiday road trips due to concerns over fuel prices.
What’s more, motorists are taking a rain check on hitting the open road because of concerns over the environmental impact of fuel-powered vehicles. A quarter (25 per cent) said that in addition to cost concerns, they had dialled back trips or visits to friends and family within the UK due to fears about global warming and air quality.
Despite a whopping eight in ten (84 per cent) people believing that fuel is too expensive and two thirds (69 per cent) concerned about vehicle emissions, only 40 per cent of Brits have considered making the switch to an electric vehicle.
However, the findings suggest that the tipping point for the electric vehicle market might not be as distant as some predict. Two thirds (68 per cent) of Brits believe that they will own an electric car at some point in the future, with a quarter (24 per cent) of those predicting they will make the switch in the next five years.
To make the transition to electric vehicles hassle-free, EDF Energy has launched its Go Electric package, including 10,000 driving miles at no added cost***.
Those choosing to Go Electric with EDF Energy will also benefit from the company’s great value and 100 per cent renewable EV tariff, access to EV lease deals and a competitive price on an EV smart charger.
Béatrice Bigois, Managing Director of Customers for EDF Energy, said: “Many of us aspire to owning an electric vehicle. This research shows that, not only will electric cars help motorists save money on their fuel costs, electric vehicles will help more people do more of the things they want to, like exploring more of the UK – all while helping the environment by reducing emissions.
“For this vision to become reality for more drivers, we have to make the decision as easy and attractive as possible for our customers. Our one-stop shop approach gives them access to a car of their choice, a smart charger and the low carbon electricity needed to power it, as well as a wealth of advice and information on EVs, helping more customers go electric today.”
EDF Energy’s new EV tariff also offers drivers 10 hours of super cheap, off-peak charging each week night, plus all day weekends.
*Offer available for the first 50 customers and is subject to terms and conditions.
**Average lifetime fuel cost of £56,458.88
***Average lifetime EV charging cost of £15,021.44
Calculations assume that on the GoElectric Sept 2020 electricity tariff, 60% of total consumption and 76% of electric vehicle home charging will be carried out during the off peak hours of 9pm – 7am weekdays and all weekends at 8.01p per kWh, including VAT. Cost assumes a conversion rate of 3.5 miles per kWh, equal to 2286 kWh per year or 8000 miles and an average UK life expectancy of 81 (Source: World Bank).
Calculations for fuel are based on 8000 miles per annum and a fuel consumption of 51.7 mpg (5.5 litres per 100 km) for petrol vehicles. The calculation is based on a UK average price per litre of 125.4p (AA Fuel Price Report April 2019). The electric vehicle charging cost assumes a conversion rate of 3.5 miles per kWh, equal to 2286 kWh per year or 8000 miles.
For more information contact
About EDF
EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.
We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.
EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.
EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.
It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.
We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.
Related articles
EDF sets out support for customers ahead of RTS switch-off in the South East
Beat the Cap: EDF cuts standing charges by £100
