Progress towards UK’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) has continued over the past quarter, according to The AA’s latest EV Readiness Index, which has moved up by five points since March.
The quarterly Readiness Index tracks eight factors affecting EV adoption and produces a combined readiness score between 1 and 100. This data is powered by proprietary AA research and extensive consumer polling of over 12,000 members, conducted in partnership with Yonder.
The overall readiness score has risen to 58.8 in Q2 2026 which covers March, April, and May. Q1 2026 scored 53.8 and Q4 2025 scored 48.8.
The increase in the overall Readiness Rating was largely driven by the widening cost gap between petrol and home charging, as petrol prices reached 159.6p per litre at the end of May, almost 20% higher than in the previous quarter’s Index. For EV drivers charging at home, the Index found that running costs were 67% cheaper per mile than petrol equivalents.
The Index also highlights the increased interest in demand for used EVs, reflected in a 78% increase in searches on the AA cars site between March and May in comparison to the previous three months.
Progress was also recorded in other areas tracked by the Index:
- Charging score: 60 (Q1 2026: 43), with infrastructure expanding to 121,262 public chargers, around 40.42% of the government’s 2030 target of 300,000.
- Upkeep score: 65 (Q1 2026: 60), with EVs continuing to perform well in breakdown data, with 88.4% fixed at the roadside.
Running out of charge accounted for just 1.2% of callouts, a further fall from historic levels and evidence that range anxiety is gradually receding.
The report has also identified areas that still need attention. Upfront costs, public charging prices, access to home charging, and uncertainty over future policy remain issues. The AA warns that drivers without driveways or access to cheaper overnight tariffs may miss out on the biggest savings, creating a potential two-tier market.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said:
“Range anxiety has shifted to pump anxiety as global petrol and diesel prices have rocketed since the Iran conflict began.
“For years, some drivers have been put off EVs by real or perceived range anxiety. But this latest Index suggests the bigger concern for many households is becoming pump anxiety. When global fuel prices rise sharply, drivers feel it immediately at the forecourt.
“EV drivers, particularly those with access to home charging, have been better insulated from that volatility. That is now showing up in the used car market, where searches for electric vehicles on AA Cars have risen by more than 75% in the last three months.
“Not every driver is yet ready to switch tomorrow. Upfront costs, public charging prices, and policy uncertainty still matter. But the economics of EV ownership are becoming harder to ignore particularly for those who can charge at home.”
