Drivers ranked cost as top priority when choosing chargers

New data from the Motability Scheme’s latest EV Transition Tracker shows that when choosing between charging points of varying tariffs, speeds and proximity, charging tariff or price was responsible for 52% of drivers decisions.

Proximity to the charger was selected by 27% and charging speed selected by 20%. Cost was also the most important factor for disabled drivers on the Motability Scheme, being responsible for 48% of their choice.

However, real-world charging behaviour tells a different story. Anonymised usage data from Motability Scheme public charging app, showed drivers frequently have to charge at higher-priced networks due to gaps in local infrastructure. 

From January to 1 December 2025, Scheme customers paid an average of 74p/kWh. The most-used operator averaged 86p/kWh, followed by 78p/kWh and 83p/kWh -demonstrating a clear mismatch between what drivers want from public charging and what they are currently able to access.

While the number of slow and fast charge points across the UK is increasing at a faster pace than rapid chargers, slow charging made up only a small proportion of charging sessions from Motability Scheme customers in 2025. Just a quarter (25%) of sessions took place on slow and fast, cheaper chargers, compared to 75% of sessions on more expensive, rapid and ultra rapid chargers.

This disconnect is also reflected across the wider UK public. Utilisation data from Zapmap for Q3 2025, revealed that 71.4% of charging sessions across the UK took place at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, while only 28.6% occurred at slow and fast chargers.

A key reason for the gap between what drivers want and how they actually charge is the limited availability of low and slow charge points close to home. For drivers without access to home charging, using slower and cheaper public chargers depends on being able to leave their vehicle plugged in for longer periods.

However, data from Field Dynamics and Zapmap shows that in some parts of the UK, charge points are far from where people live – with households facing walks of more than 15 minutes to reach their nearest charger. 

In London, where 81% of UK households are within a 0-5 minute walk of a public charger, nearly 6 in 10 (58%) of Motability Scheme charging sessions took place on slow and fast chargers - the highest proportion of any region. 

By contrast, in regions where charge points are much further from home, use of these lower-cost options falls sharply. In the East Midlands, where just 24% of households are within a 5-minute walk of a charger, only 10.8% of sessions were on slow and fast chargers. 

Joseph B, Motability Scheme customer, said: “Where I live, public transport is too far away for me to access so my car is essential. I’m lucky to have a home charger for my EV, which means charging is great value. If I had to rely more on the public network, I would definitely need to prioritise the cost of the charge, over the speed unless I was in the middle of a journey.”

Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations, said: “Inspiring the next cohort of EV drivers will depend not just on interest in EVs, but on the experience people have once they use them. While attitudes towards EVs remain stable, gaps in affordable, slow charging close to home are creating charging experiences that are often more expensive and less convenient than drivers expect. This is particularly detrimental for those without  access to home charging. Without the right infrastructure in place, it will become increasingly difficult to convert curiosity about EVs into confident, long-term uptake.”