What does the DfT’s recent EV Driver Tracker tell us?

The evolving EV driver

The Tracker paints a clear picture of who’s behind the wheel of today’s electric vehicles, with the majority being homeowners, aged 35 or older, living in urban or suburban areas.

The findings also show that attitudes and experiences are changing, with those who first drove a BEV before 2023 more likely to value recharge time (23% compared to 10%), reliability of refuelling/charging stations (28% compared to 16%), and environmental factors (60% compared to 44%).

This would seem to suggest that early adopters, many of whom were motivated by a desire to make a greener choice, were willing to embrace electric driving despite concerns about charging convenience or infrastructure reliability. By contrast, more recent switchers appear to view those perceived practical barriers as far less of an issue.

The research also highlights that for drivers with access to both an electric vehicle and a traditional ICE car or van, cost to run (69%) and environmental impact (67%) were the main reasons for choosing their BEV for most journeys.

Employers are helping drive EV adoption

The government’s policy of incentivising EV adoption through ultra-low (but now increasing) rates of Benefit-in-Kind means that the majority of new company cars now come with a plug, but the DfT’s new research reveals that four in ten drivers obtained their electric vehicle through a salary sacrifice scheme. 

This is notable because it shows that drivers are no longer choosing electric simply because they’re early adopters or environmental advocates, they’re doing it because their employer made it easy and affordable to do so. If you're interested in offering your employees an electric car scheme, book a discovery call with one of our team today.

Why choose Salary Sacrifice with Novuna?

Charging habits: home, work, and on the road

The vast majority of EV drivers have a method of charging at home, with a higher percentage of BEV drivers (91%) having a dedicated home charger compared to PHEV drivers (88%). In fact, just 9% of BEV drivers were fully reliant on a charging solution accessed away from the home.

Given the higher cost of charging on the road, and the high proportion of drivers with a home charging capability, it’s no surprise that EV drivers charge primarily at home, often via EV-specific or time-of-use electricity tariffs that deliver significant savings. While rates vary, around a third reported paying less than 10p per kWh. That’s just over 80% cheaper than the average fast charger, which typically costs in the region of 52p per kWh. Perhaps surprisingly, more than a third of drivers who took part in the more detailed ‘driver diary’ section of the research didn’t know the cost of using a public charger.

That said, it’s interesting to note that those who first drove a BEV before 2023 were more likely to have a dedicated home charger compared to more recent switchers (80% and 71% respectively). This would indicate that while home charging is easier and cheaper for most drivers, reliance on public or workplace charging is growing.

Just over a quarter of BEV drivers made frequent use of chargers at workplaces/places of education (27%), with a similar number making use of chargers installed at business or organisation owned car park. For those that charge at work, 27% of BEV and 33% of PHEV drivers use workplace charging weekly.

Around one in four BEV drivers say they use workplace or education-site chargers regularly.

For fleets, the message is clear: building confidence in the switch means making charging seamless. If a driver can plug in at home or at work, without worrying about queues, costs or cables, their overall satisfaction with EVs rises significantly. At Novuna, we offer an end to end fleet electrification solution, designed just for you. Simply take our six question quiz to find your fleets best fit charging solution and keep your drivers happy.

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Charger anxiety eclipses worry about range

It’s clear from the results that the vast majority of EV drivers are happy with their vehicle’s range capabilities for day-to-day use. Around two thirds (68%) drive a BEV capable of more than 200 miles on a single charge and nearly the same proportion (64%) cover less than 100 miles in an average week. The research also showed a median daily distance of 11 miles (BEV) and 10 miles (PHEV). In other words, for most drivers, running out of range isn’t a genuine issue.

Faced with a longer journey, the DfT’s data reveals that 64% of BEV drivers are confident driving long distances and 58% say public chargepoints are easy to locate when travelling. This is reinforced by the fact that around half of drivers made a journey of 100 miles or more on a monthly basis and 28% of BEV drivers did so at least weekly.

This would seem to indicate that practical concerns are easing as the public network expands. But it’s worth noting that at a local level only around half of drivers (52%) are satisfied with the number of chargepoints in their local area. It’s a figure that falls even further outside major cities and one that becomes more of an issue for the 24% of BEV drivers without a dedicated home charging facility.

Reliability is another concern, with 49% of drivers reporting chargers were often faulty or occupied when needed and 55% found the pricing structure confusing.

In other words, predictability, knowing a charger will be available, functional, and with clear and transparent pricing has eclipsed range as the primary cause of anxiety for EV drivers both old and new.

For fleets, charging anxiety isn’t just psychological; it has real business consequences. Time lost looking for an available charger can potentially result in missed or delayed deliveries, eroding both driver confidence and customer trust. 

Installing and optimising work and depot charging facilities, together with intelligent use of smart routing, verified chargepoint data and corporate payment cards that consolidate costs and reduce administration, helps employers to alleviate much of the uncertainty that still surrounds public charging and deliver a more consistent driver experience and lower total cost of operation. Our Charge Point Management System (CPMS), does exactly that for Fleet Managers and drivers. Book a call in with our decarbonisaion team today for more information.

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Drivers are overwhelmingly positive about the EVs

A key takeaway from the Tracker is that drivers are overwhelmingly happy about their EV driving experience, with 88% of BEV drivers happy to recommend an electric vehicle to others and 78% intend to get another EV next time around. The few who wouldn’t recommend an EV typically cited charging availability, rather than vehicle performance, as the reason.

That’s a remarkable level of satisfaction for technology that, just a few years ago, was considered as being a long way from being ready for mass-market adoption.

What the findings mean for fleets

The Tracker offers a clear set of lessons for fleet operators about what really drives successful EV adoption.

Where next?

What the DfT EV Driver Tracker makes clear is that the shift to electric is already well underway, but it’s not without its challenges.

While confidence in EV range and day-to-day driving is growing, access to reliable charging, cost certainty and the practical realities of managing an electric vehicle continue to shape driver and fleet manager experiences.

This is where the right support can make all the difference. At Novuna, we work with businesses at every stage of their electrification journey, whether you’re taking your first steps towards electric, scaling up an existing EV fleet, or looking to engage employees through initiatives like electric car salary sacrifice. From electric vehicle leasing and fleet management to workplace charging solutions and expert decarbonisation guidance, our tailored approach is designed to remove complexity and help you move forward with confidence.

If you’re looking to turn insight into action, Novuna is here to help.
Discover how our electric fleet solutions can support your organisation’s transition to a low-emission fleet and help you deliver a smoother, more sustainable future for your drivers and your business.

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