EDF Energy claims Brit motorists could save up to £41,00 by going electric

The average British motorist will spend over a staggering £56,000 on fuel in a lifetime, according to new figures from EDF Energy.

With the average lifetime cost of charging an electric vehicle coming in at just over £15,000, savvy Brits could save over £41,000 on fuel by going electric in the near future.

New research by the energy giant found that the cost to travel by car is a serious concern for the British public, with over two thirds (68 per cent) having travelled further than their nearest petrol station to find a better deal on fuel. Over a third (35 per cent) even admitted that the thought of how much they spend on fuel puts them off driving.

The study of 2,000 Brits uncovered that many felt they would be able to travel more and see more of the country if the cost of fuel wasn’t such a barrier. A quarter (24 per cent) said that fuel costs had prevented them from driving somewhere in the past and a fifth (21 per cent) have had to cut back on holiday road trips due to concerns over fuel prices.  

What’s more, motorists are taking a rain check on hitting the open road because of concerns over the environmental impact of fuel-powered vehicles. A quarter (25 per cent) said that in addition to cost concerns, they had dialled back trips or visits to friends and family within the UK due to fears about global warming and air quality.

However, despite a whopping eight in ten (84 per cent) people believing that fuel is too expensive and two thirds (69 per cent) concerned about vehicle emissions, only 40 per cent of Brits have even considered making the switch to an electric vehicle.

Nevertheless two thirds (68 per cent) of Brits believe that they will own an electric car at some point in the future, with a quarter (24 per cent) of those predicting they will make the switch in the next five years.

To make the transition to electric vehicles hassle-free, EDF Energy has launched its Go Electric package, including up to 10,000 miles worth of charge for free.

Béatrice Bigois, Managing Director of Customers for EDF Energy, said:

“Many of us aspire to owning an electric vehicle. This research shows that, not only will electric cars help motorists save money on their fuel costs, they will also help more people do more of the things they want to, like exploring more of the UK – all while helping the environment by reducing emissions.”