07 Oct 2026
More than half (53%) of dealers say the high price of public charging is the biggest threat to expansion of the used electric car market, research shows.
October’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows that almost as many – 52% – believe the planned introduction of pence per mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) will be an issue.
Other factors named include the lack of home charging options for people in terraced houses and apartments (48%) and confusion over regular changes to the ZEV Mandate (38%).
A third (33%) also report that some people are determined to stick with petrol and diesel, and 30% say the poor availability of certain types of electric cars, such as pick-ups and convertibles, is an issue. A quarter (25%) say consumers are worried over battery failure.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “The volume of electric cars entering the used sector is growing rapidly and, against this backdrop, we wanted to find out what dealers think are the biggest barriers to more motorists buying them.
“Our research shows three problems dominate – high public charging costs, eVED and a lack of charging options for drivers without driveways.
“Of these, eVED would be the simplest to solve and may well yet be abandoned due to political pressure. The other issues are more difficult. While substantial sums of money are being made available, on-street charging for people living in terraced houses and apartments is available in few locations. At the same time, high public charging prices are very much linked to the investment required to install chargers and the cost of power.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker also asked dealers which single government action would promote used electric car adoption. The most popular answer was to introduce a scrappage scheme (38%), followed by mass installation of on-street charging for terraced houses and apartments (33%) and abandoning the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty plans (28%).
Paul said: “Previous research we’ve carried out in this area has also shown a high degree of enthusiasm for an electric car scrappage scheme. While there is already a high level of government support – including favourable company car tax, the two-tier new price subsidy scheme and reduced VED – it seems dealers believe a scrappage scheme designed to get people out of polluting older cars and electrify would have a definite impact.”
Compiled monthly by APD Global Research – well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs – the Startline Used Car Tracker this month questioned 329 consumers and 60 dealers.