Most drivers around the UK believe petrol and diesel cars are CHEAPER to run than electric vehicles, new data suggests.

THE MAJORITY of drivers in the UK believe petrol and diesel cars are cheaper to run than electric vehicles.

A report carried out by NFU Mutual revealed that 54% of motorists think petrol and diesel vehicles are now the cheapest to run.

As electricity costs continue to rise, just 18% of drivers thought an electric vehicle would be cheaper.

This contrasts sharply with 2022, when 57% of respondents to a survey stated that lower operating costs were an incentive to switch to an EV.

And only one in ten motorists think a plug-in hybrid vehicle would be the cheapest to run.

According to NFU Mutual research, drivers' desire to commit to an electric car was significantly impacted by the cost of living crisis.

This is because the energy crisis has hit public perception of the cost of electric vehicles, with most now thinking petrol and diesel cars are the cheapest to run.

Jade Devlin, a motor insurance expert at NFU Mutual, told the : "We don’t need to look far to explain this shift in public perception. With the energy crisis hitting households this year, motorists are questioning whether EVs still live up to one of their main selling points.

"The answer is yes, they are still more economical to run and can provide significant savings – but with a word of caution to be canny about how you charge."

The RAC revealed that charging electric cars regularly using a 7kW home charger costs just 10p per mile.

However, when using rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, these cost rise to 20p and 21p per mile.

And with full prices slowly falling, it now costs 17p per mile to run a petrol car and 20p for a diesel.

Jade Devlin added: "When looking at running costs, you should also think wider than charging. 

"Road tax is considerably cheaper for EVs given the lower carbon emissions. If you regularly drive through Clean Air Zones, you’ll usually reap the benefits of exemption from charges if your vehicle is zero-emission. 

"Electric cars require less maintenance than those with a combustion engine, and tech on newer vehicles can also help to identify faults before they become a major problem, which could reduce costly repairs in the long run.”