For much of early 2026, British motorists had been enjoying petrol prices of around 130 pence per litre. But that changed quickly as disruption to global energy markets pushed the cost of fuel upwards.
Government figures show petrol prices rose by 9.1 pence per litre in March and another 17.7 pence in April – reaching a high of 158 pence per litre of E10 petrol. So, has the higher cost of running a petrol or diesel car made electric vehicles more attractive to British car buyers? Data from YouGov CategoryView suggests it could be the case.
Are more British car buyers considering EVs amid the rise in fuel prices?
Among Britons intending to purchase a car, 22% said they were considering an electric vehicle in January 2026. The figure remained at 22% in February before rising to 25% in March and reaching 28% in April.
That timing broadly coincides with the sharp increase in petrol prices. Between February and April, petrol prices rose by roughly 27 pence per litre, while EV consideration increased by six percentage points.
EV consideration dropped slightly to 25% in May, while petrol prices declined by only 0.7 pence per litre month-on-month.
Taken together, the figures suggest higher fuel prices may have provided an additional reason for some prospective buyers to look at electric cars.
The brands gaining ground among EV considerers in Britain
YouGov BrandIndex, which provides always-on, daily brand and competitor tracking across 16 brand health metrics, delivers an insight into the carmakers that are gaining ground among EV considerers. Over the six months to August 17, 2026, Volkswagen recorded the largest increase compared with the preceding six-month period among EV considerers. Its score rose from 32.5 to 42.6, a gain of 10.1 points.
Land Rover registered the second-largest increase, with its Consideration score climbing 8.9 points from 10.2 to 19.2 – a notable uplift alongside the preview of the brand’s first Range Rover Electric model. BMW followed closely, gaining 8.5 points to reach 33.2, while Audi rose 8.1 points to 34.3.
BYD is among the brands strengthening its position
At the same time, newer EV-focused competitors have also made gains.
BYD's Consideration score among EV considerers increased by 5.9 points, from 14.0 to 19.9, putting it level with Volvo for the fifth-largest increase over the same period.
Škoda improved by five points to 21.7, while Renault rose 4.9 points to 15.9. Vauxhall gained 3.8 points and Mercedes-Benz 3.7 points. For automotive marketers, this could point to an increasingly competitive EV consideration set.
Methodology: YouGov CategoryView delivers sector-level intelligence by combining brand tracking with in-depth consumer insights. Data is collected daily from YouGov’s proprietary online panel and delivered via monthly dashboards, tailored to the unique needs of each industry. CategoryView is available across multiple verticals including Automotive, Financial Services, Quick Service Restaurants, and Beer & Hard Seltzers. It provides a representative view of market dynamics, brand performance, and consumer behaviours. Insights are weighted to nationally representative demographics within each market.
YouGov BrandIndex collects data on thousands of brands every day. An automotive brand’s Consideration score is based on the question: When you are in the market next to purchase a car or van, from which of the following would you consider purchasing? Scores are reported as a percentage, based on daily surveys of UK adults. Data is weighted by age, gender, region, social grade, and ethnicity using a raking methodology. Figures are shown as six-month averages, with sample sizes ranging from 308 to 369 for each automotive brand. The comparison covers February 18 to August 17, 2026, versus August 18, 2025 to February 17, 2026.