AA EV Readiness Index warns of ‘fragile’ transition
The UK is more ready for electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2026 than it was in the final quarter of 2025, according to the latest AA EV Readiness Index.
The EV Readiness Index measures eight key indicators, combining them into a single Readiness Rating. It found UK’s score moved from 48.8 in the last three months of 2025 to 53.8 at the start of this year.
The higher rating was driven by falling prices in the used EV market, with used EVs now about 10% cheaper than petrol equivalents, while the Index also reported an increase in public charging infrastructure, up from 40 to 43.
However, the report suggests the UK EV market is still in transition rather than mass adoption, with the AA warning that mixed messages from the government and weak EV demand still could undermine long-term electric vehicle transition.
Conditions improving
Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: “Our AA UK EV Readiness Index shows that conditions for switching to electric cars are improving, with cheaper used EVs opening the door for more drivers.
“But the reality is that the transition remains fragile. Lower prices may be good news for motorists looking for a bargain, but if values fall too quickly it becomes unsustainable for fleets and manufacturers who buy most new electric cars in the first place.
“At the same time, mixed messages from government – including uncertainty around future taxes such as eVED – risk denting confidence just as the market is beginning to mature from the early adopters.
“To keep momentum going we need clearer long-term policy signals and better information for drivers so they can make an informed choice when or whether to switch.”
