The factors that assist the UK’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) have moved up in the right direction, according to The AA’s latest EV Readiness Index.
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 53.8 in Q1 2026 which covers December, January, and February. Q4 2025 scored 48.8, and Q3 2025 was at 47.5.
The increase in the overall Readiness Rating was largely driven by falling prices in the used EV market, which have now dropped below the cost of equivalent petrol cars for the first time since the Index launched in September 2025. Used EVs were 10% cheaper than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles during the quarter.
The availability of lower-priced vehicles – particularly from ex-fleet supply entering the market – has created new opportunities for motorists considering switching to electric.
However, the AA cautions that rapid depreciation presents a significant challenge for fleets and manufacturers, which rely on strong residual values to support new vehicle sales and leasing models.
Progress was also recorded in other areas tracked by the Index:
- Charging score: 43 (Q4 2025: 40), with infrastructure expanding to 118,321 public chargers, around 39.4% of the government’s 2030 target of 300,000.
- Upkeep score: 60 (unchanged), with EVs continuing to perform well in breakdown data, with 88.7% fixed at the roadside.
Running out of charge accounted for just 1.5% of callouts, a dramatic fall from historic levels and evidence that range anxiety is gradually receding.
The report has also identified areas that still need attention. Polling of more than 12,000 AA members found that:
- Only 3% of drivers are confident about buying a used EV
- 22% feel confident they would know how to charge one
- 30% feel less confident driving an EV compared with petrol or diesel cars
- 55% say prospect of eVED may put them off buying a new or used EV
Consumer understanding of EV costs also remains limited. Only 14% of drivers believe EV running costs are lower than petrol or diesel, despite strong evidence that maintenance and home charging can be significantly cheaper.
The research suggests that better information and clearer reassurance on battery health and reliability will be critical to unlocking demand, particularly in the used market.
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said:
“Our AA UK EV Readiness Index shows that conditions for switching to electric cars are improving, with cheaper used EVs opening the door for more drivers. But the reality is that the transition remains fragile.
“Lower prices may be good news for motorists looking for a bargain, but if values fall too quickly it becomes unsustainable for fleets and manufacturers who buy most new electric cars in the first place.
“At the same time, mixed messages from government – including uncertainty around future taxes such as eVED – risk denting confidence just as the market is beginning to mature from the early adopters.
“To keep momentum going we need clearer long-term policy signals and better information for drivers so they can make an informed choice when or whether to switch.
“Although spiralling petrol and diesel prices as a result of the situation in Iran are not included in our Q1 Index, we might see high fuel costs as another incentive to go electric in the future.”
