I'm Becoming a Fan of EVs, But These 5 Issues Still Matter

I’ll admit it: electric vehicles are growing on me.

A couple of months back, I drove six electric cars at the Everything Electric Show in London. It was my first time behind the wheel of an EV, and I came away surprised, in a good way. Every car I tested had something going for it. Some were more refined or better equipped than others, but I’d have happily taken any of them home for daily driving duties. Across the board, they felt smooth, responsive, and genuinely enjoyable to drive.

But I’m not fully sold. Not yet.

There are still a few things holding EVs back from being a no-brainer, especially when compared to their petrol or diesel counterparts. While I’ll steer clear of the emotional side of the driving experience (because that’s far too subjective), there are five practical, day-to-day barriers the car industry needs to overcome before EVs can really claim the crown for everyday drivers.

What EVs Get Right

Let’s start with the positives.

EVs offer a level of instant torque and smoothness that’s hard to ignore. Regardless of their horsepower figures, every EV I drove felt quick enough to keep up with traffic and handle motorway merges without breaking a sweat. That instant power delivery makes them feel lively around town and reassuring on A-roads and motorways.

Then there’s the refinement. No engine noise. No gear changes. Just quiet, seamless motion. It makes for a relaxing drive, whether you’re popping to the shops or doing the school run. That serenity is something even high-end petrol cars struggle to replicate. Still, as tempting as that refinement is, it doesn’t cancel out the practical challenges that come with EV ownership.

1. Cost: More Than Just the Price Tag

The biggest and most obvious hurdle is cost. But it’s not just the sticker price—it’s what lies beneath the surface.

Upfront cost: EVs are, on average, more expensive than equivalent petrol or diesel cars. Even with government incentives mostly phased out in the UK, you’re likely to pay a premium for the electric version of a given model.

If the EV costs more than £40,000, you’ll also be hit with the Premium Rate Vehicle Excise Duty—a tax of £390 per year for five years (on top of the standard £190). That’s over £2,900 in road tax alone, which stings if you're trying to justify the extra spend on an electric vehicle.

Depreciation: Then there's how fast EVs lose their value. According to research data, electric cars depreciate faster than petrol vehicles, mainly due to uncertainty around battery longevity and slower second-hand demand.

Used EVs: On paper, used electric cars are becoming more affordable; some have dropped by as much as 30% in the last year. But with that comes more uncertainty. How much usable range is left? How well has the battery aged? Battery health reports aren’t always easily available or standardised, so buying used can feel like a leap of faith.

2. Charging Infrastructure: Still Playing Catch-Up

We’ve all heard stories of broken chargers or long queues at motorway service stations. Unfortunately, those stories aren’t just rare outliers—they’re still quite common in the UK.

As of May 2025, there are now over 80,000 public charge points across the UK (ZapMap), but accessibility and reliability are still inconsistent. A 2024 Carwow video showcased just how frustrating it can be to use public chargers, especially outside London or major cities.

What’s more, not all chargers are created equal. Fast and rapid chargers are still a minority, and many older public units can take hours to top up. For anyone without access to home charging, like people living in flats or those relying on street parking, this is a serious roadblock.

3. Range Anxiety: It's Real, Even If It Shouldn’t Be

Let’s say your EV has a claimed range of 300 miles. That sounds solid on paper. But in reality?

• Real-world range is typically 10–15% lower due to weather, terrain, and driving style. So expect 260–270 miles at best.

• Most drivers won’t go below 10% battery, especially on long trips.

• Fast chargers slow down significantly after 80% state of charge to protect the battery. That means you’re often only ‘topping up’ 70% of the full capacity when charging on the go.

In practice, that gives you a realistic working range of 200–240 miles on a longer journey. That’s still more than enough for most daily routines - commuters driving 30 miles a day could go a full week between charges - but it adds friction when you’re planning road trips or impromptu detours.

And let’s be honest, if you’ve spent £40k+ on a car, you probably want the confidence to take it further afield once in a while without overthinking your next stop.

4. Time and Convenience

Even if you can charge regularly, the time cost is something to consider.

A full charge at home can take 8–12 hours using a standard wall box. Public rapid chargers bring that down to 30–45 minutes, but that’s still a significant wait, especially compared to the 5 minutes it takes to fill up a petrol car.

And while it's easy to say "just charge overnight," not everyone has access to a driveway or a charger at work. Until public charging is as convenient and widespread as petrol stations, there's still a gap in ease of use for many drivers.

5. The Alternative Is Still Pretty Good

Petrol and hybrid cars aren’t perfect, but they’re well-understood, widely supported, and consistently reliable.

Modern hybrids, in particular, strike a compelling balance:

• You get electric smoothness and low-speed efficiency

• You don’t have to plug them in

• You can fill up in minutes and drive for 500+ miles without worrying about range or charger availability

For many people, especially those not ready to go all-in on electric, a hybrid feels like the best of both worlds.

The Bottom Line

I want to root for EVs. And in many ways, I already do. The driving experience is smooth, quiet, and genuinely enjoyable. But we’re still in a phase where the tech is slightly ahead of the infrastructure, and the buying experience can be just as much about compromise as it is about progress.

If the cost comes down, the charging network improves, and battery reliability becomes easier to verify on the used market, I could see myself going electric in the near future.

But until then, hybrids still make a strong case, and petrol isn’t going anywhere just yet.