Why now is the time to go electric.

Anchor EV · Electric Car Buying Guide

Is now the right time
to buy an electric car?

Short answer: yes. In 2025, the UK generated a record 52.5% of its electricity from renewable sources, the highest share ever recorded. Petrol prices remain exposed to global oil markets. Electricity is increasingly homegrown. That shift makes buying an EV one of the most practical decisions a UK driver can make right now.

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UK electricity in 2025: the numbers that matter

These are verified figures from official UK energy generation data. They tell the story of why EV ownership is becoming more compelling each year.

52.5%

Renewable share of UK electricity generation in 2025 — the highest proportion ever recorded. More than half of the electricity flowing through UK homes, businesses and charging points now comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources.

30%	Share of UK electricity supplied by wind power in 2025 — making wind the single largest source in the generation mix, ahead of gas. That is energy generated in the UK, for the UK.

20 TWh

Record solar generation in 2025 — a significant year-on-year increase that demonstrates the pace at which renewable capacity is growing. Total installed renewable capacity now stands at 65.1 GW.

152 TWh

Total renewable electricity generated in the UK in 2025 — 152.5 TWh in a single year. To put that in context, one TWh can power around 300,000 UK homes for a year.

Source: 2025 UK electricity generation data. Figures cited from official national energy statistics.

Why 2026 is the best year yet to buy an electric car in the UK

For several years, switching to electric was described as a smart future decision. What has changed is that the future is now the present. The underlying conditions, energy costs, grid cleanliness, vehicle availability and used car pricing have all moved in the same direction at the same time.

Petrol and diesel prices are still driven by global oil markets that individual drivers cannot influence. Supply decisions made by oil-producing nations, shipping disruptions, geopolitical events and currency fluctuations all flow through to the forecourt within days.

Electricity in the UK is increasingly generated domestically from wind and solar. That does not make it immune to price movements, but it does mean EV drivers are less directly exposed to the global oil price cycle than petrol or diesel drivers.

Five reasons UK drivers are switching to electric right now

These are the practical, day-to-day factors that are driving the switch, not the aspirational ones.

01	Running costs are significantly lower Electricity costs per mile are typically lower than petrol, often by a wide margin, particularly for drivers who charge at home overnight or on an off-peak tariff. Fewer moving parts also means lower servicing bills over time.

02	You are insulated from oil price volatility Petrol prices can jump by 10p per litre in a matter of days following global events. EV drivers are not immune to energy price changes, but they are far less directly tied to crude oil markets.

03	UK electricity is increasingly renewable With 52.5% of UK electricity now from renewables and the grid getting cleaner each year, the environmental credentials of EV ownership strengthen automatically, without the driver doing anything differently.

04	Used EV prices have fallen substantially The used electric car market has matured and prices have corrected from early adoption premiums. This means buyers can now access vehicles with strong range and modern technology at much more competitive price points than was possible two or three years ago.

05	The direction of travel is clear UK policy, infrastructure investment and energy generation are all aligned toward electrification. The longer a driver delays, the more of that transition they miss, including the early adoption advantage on used car pricing.

Common questions about buying an electric car in the UK

Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often.

Is now a good time to buy an electric car in the UK?

Yes. Three conditions have aligned in 2026 that make this one of the strongest buying windows yet: UK electricity is at a record renewable share of 52.5%, the used EV market now offers significantly lower prices than in 2021–2022, and petrol costs remain unpredictable. Taken together, the financial and practical case for switching is more compelling than it's ever been.

How much of UK electricity comes from renewable energy?

In 2025, 52.5% of UK electricity was generated from renewable sources, the highest proportion ever recorded. Wind accounted for 30% of all generation and solar reached a record output of 20 TWh. Total installed renewable capacity across the UK grid is now 65.1 GW.

Are electric cars cheaper to run than petrol cars in the UK?

For most drivers, yes. Electricity costs per mile are typically lower than petrol, and the gap is widest for drivers who charge at home on off-peak tariffs. Electric vehicles also have fewer mechanical components than petrol cars, which tends to reduce servicing costs over time, particularly relevant for higher-mileage drivers.

Is buying a used electric car good value in the UK?

Used electric cars now represent some of the strongest value in the market. Early-generation EVs that originally sold at significant premiums are now available at much lower prices, yet still offer competitive real-world range and modern technology. The lower purchase price, combined with lower running costs, can make the total cost of ownership highly competitive against equivalent petrol alternatives.

What are the main reasons UK drivers switch to electric cars?

The most common reasons are: lower day-to-day running costs, reduced exposure to petrol and diesel price spikes, the growing proportion of renewable electricity on the UK grid, lower servicing requirements, and the improved availability of used models at competitive prices. For business drivers, company car tax advantages also play a significant role.

What the 2025 UK energy data is telling drivers

Renewables are now the backbone of Britain's power system, supplying the majority of the country's electricity for the second consecutive year. Wind was the single largest source of generation in 2025, producing more electricity than gas for the first time over a full calendar year. Solar output made one of its biggest annual jumps on record.

At the same time, domestic transport emissions increased in 2025, partly because petrol and diesel consumption on UK roads rose. That contrast, a grid becoming cleaner while road transport stays fossil-fuel dependent, is precisely the gap that EV adoption closes.

The UK grid is getting cleaner every year. Every EV charged on it benefits from that improvement automatically with no action required from the driver.

In straightforward terms, the UK is building an energy system that becomes better suited to EV ownership each year. Drivers who switch now begin benefiting from that trajectory immediately, and continue to benefit as the grid improves further.

Oil is volatile.
Electricity is getting stronger.

That is the real story. Switching to electric is not just about changing what you drive. It is about changing what you depend on.

Browse our current stock of used electric cars and find one that fits how you drive.