Shell has published the findings of its 2025 Recharge Driver Survey, based on responses from over 15,000 drivers across Europe, the USA and China.
The results highlight a widening divide in attitudes towards electric vehicle adoption, with confidence among current EV drivers rising but interest among petrol and diesel drivers stalling or falling.
The survey shows that 61% of EV drivers globally now worry less about running out of charge compared to a year ago, while 72% believe public charging availability has improved.
However, interest among internal combustion engine (ICE) drivers has fallen in Europe and the USA. In Europe, just 41% are now considering an EV, down from 48% in 2024. In the USA, the figure has dropped slightly from 34% to 31%.
Cost remains a major concern, particularly in Europe where 43% of non-EV drivers cite affordability as the main barrier. Shell cited IEA data showing that vehicle prices in Europe have stagnated despite lower battery costs, with energy prices and wider economic pressures likely influencing sentiment.
David Bunch, group executive vice president of Shell Mobility & Convenience, said: “Shell has established strong public charging networks in key markets worldwide, and this research reinforces what we hear from our customers: there’s a growing disparity in the transition to electric vehicles.
While current EV drivers are feeling more confident, the relatively high cost of owning an electric vehicle, combined with broader economic pressures, are making it a difficult decision for new consumers.”
Bunch added: “With the right policies and industry collaboration, we can make the transition affordable for consumers and attractive for investors. But more must be done to stimulate demand and ensure no one is left behind in the shift to cleaner transport.”
The survey also found that 91% of current EV drivers would consider another EV for their next vehicle. At the same time, support for phasing out ICE vehicles appears to depend heavily on affordability and charging access.
In Europe, only 44% of ICE drivers support phase-out policies, with that number dropping if EVs remain more expensive or if infrastructure fails to improve.
In the UK, the findings have drawn comment from the fleet sector. Adam Hall, energy services director at Drax Electric Vehicles, said: “The Shell survey reflects what we see every day working with UK businesses on their EV strategies: once people experience driving an EV, they don’t want to go back.
“The smoothness, silence, instant torque and lower running costs speak for themselves – and the data proves it. EV drivers are more confident than ever and increasingly likely to own just one vehicle. That tells us the technology has crossed a threshold of trust.”
Hall continued: “Businesses are already leading the charge: nearly half of all new business contract hire vehicle deliveries are electric, according to the BVRLA. And with the UK’s ZEV mandate requiring 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold by 2030 to be electric, this transition isn’t just coming – it’s already underway. The opportunity now is to help businesses and their drivers embrace it, not feel pushed into it.”
Shell also found that while more drivers are relying solely on EVs, challenges remain in the European public charging experience. Just 51% of drivers said reliability had improved, compared with 74% in China and 80% in the USA.
“Only 17% of European drivers said public charging offers value for money, in contrast to 69% in China and 71% in the USA.
Convenience retail continues to be a major driver engagement point, with 75% of EV drivers and 80% of non-EV drivers buying at least one non-fuel item monthly. Coffee was the most popular purchase, though 60% said they would only buy it if the quality was good.
Bunch added: “There’s a clear demand for good quality coffee among drivers, and we are committed to meeting this need, whether that’s through our convenience partners or Shell Café, to ensure drivers have access to high-quality fresh coffee and other amenities.”
