- The list consisted mostly of larger EVs with high savings
- An ever-increasing number of savvy families are turning their backs on paying a ‘petrol premium’
- The sticker price of new EVs is falling
Secondhand electric vehicle (EV) drivers will still save around £1,450 a year, on average, despite the government’s plan to bring in a new 3p-per-mile tax on EVs in 2028, new analysis from the Energy Climate and Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has found.
The analysis, which models 10 years of secondhand ownership, including purchase cost and all running costs, looked at the most-viewed secondhand EVs of 2025 on Autotrader.
The list consisted mostly of larger EVs with high savings, according to Colin Walker, head of transport, ECIU. These included the Jaguar i-Pace, Polestar 2 or Audi Q4 e-tron, but the ECIU also looked at smaller EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf, that can save drivers almost £700 per year. This was also true for other smaller EVs, with savings of £940 for the Renualt Zoe and £650 for the Kia NIro.
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These substantial savings were driven by significantly lower charging costs compared to petrol costs, Walker said, adding that secondhand EVs were now priced the same as secondhand petrol cars. Walker predicted that by 2028 new EVs will be the same price as new petrol ones and be “much cheaper to run”.
The analysis followed the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which found that sales of secondhand EVs in Q3 2025 grew by 44%, the highest growth rate of all other types, including petrol, diesel and hybrid.
Walker said that an ever-increasing number of families are turning their backs on paying a ‘petrol premium’ to run their old cars, trading them in for second-hand EVs that can save hundreds, even thousands, of pounds a year.
“The mixed messages being sent to consumers by the Government’s introduction of a 3p-per-mile tax on EVs is understandably causing concern, risks undermining consumer confidence, and could significantly slow the sale of new and used EVs.
“But it will not change the fact that second-hand EVs can deliver, and will continue to deliver, very significant savings to families across the country the moment they get their hands on the keys.
“The Government’s recent weakening of its targets for new EV sales could encourage manufacturers to sell more plug-in hybrids – which burn 490% more fuel than their manufacturers claim – and fewer EVs,” Walker said.
“This in turn could stifle the growth of the UK’s second-hand EV market, keeping many families back from being able to make the transition to cheaper and cleaner electric driving”.
Install an EV charging point at home
An electric vehicle charging point at home can not only save you time, but money too. Use the button below to get some free, no obligation quotes from our trusted suppliers.
