For the first time, new electric cars in the UK are cheaper to buy on average than petrol cars—£785 cheaper according to Autotrader data, at £42,620 vs £43,405. This is significant because upfront cost has been the biggest barrier keeping people from switching to EVs, and combined with already-lower running costs, the price equation has shifted. The shift was driven by UK government EV subsidies (up to £3,750 off), carmakers cutting prices to meet zero-emission mandates, and Chinese competitors undercutting traditional brands. However, charging infrastructure remains patchy in areas without driveways, which still limits accessibility for some UK drivers.