New electric vehicles are now cheaper than petrol cars for first time

TechnologyCars
17 Apr 2026 • 11:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

New electric vehicles are now cheaper than petrol cars for first time

  • New electric vehicles (EVs) are now cheaper to purchase than petrol models for the first time, according to analysis by online vehicle marketplace Autotrader.
  • The average price of a new electric car is £42,620, which is £785 less than a new petrol car, priced at £43,405.
  • This price difference is attributed to Government grants and sustained discounting by manufacturers, with average EV discounts currently at 11.7%.
  • Bex Kennett from Autotrader noted that increased competition and efforts by manufacturers have improved EV supply and affordability, also highlighting geopolitical events driving interest in EVs.
  • The UK government's Zev mandate and the planned ban on new petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 are contributing factors to the shift towards electric vehicles.