Everything Electric returned to Harrogate last week, bringing together retailers, manufacturers, and industry experts for one of the UK's leading EV shows. With so much noise around EV adoption right now, it was a brilliant opportunity to hear directly from the people at the sharp end.
Here are five things that stood out
1. The retailer experience gap could still be holding the industry back
One comment that resonated was some salespeople on the front line still haven't driven an EV, let alone lived with one for any meaningful period of time.
And if you haven't experienced the product yourself, it's incredibly difficult to sell it with conviction. The message from the show was refreshingly blunt - get bums on seats.
Test drives, and time in the car are the best ways to really understand the products. Retailers need to understand what it feels like to own and use an EV day to day, there will always be a disconnect between the product and the pitch.
2. Product quality has genuinely moved on
There's a narrative that EVs still can't match traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. That's becoming increasingly hard to justify. The new Cayenne Electric and BMW iX3 are both now delivering over 400 miles of real-world range and with the new Range Rover Electric coming later this year, it's an exciting time.
EVs are also becoming more competitive on price than many buyers realise. For the first time, the average new EV (post-discount) costs £42,620, which is cheaper than the average new ICE at £43,405. That's a dramatic shift from the 51% price gap that existed in 2018. And with sub-£20k options like the Leapmotor T03 at £15,995* and the Dacia Spring at £15,990* now on sale, the affordability argument is becoming hard to ignore. [*Pre-grant list price.]
Perceptions of Chinese-manufactured vehicles are shifting too, with quality and specification levels that are genuinely turning heads. The market data reflects this: Chinese-owned brands, including MG, Volvo and Polestar, have grown from 11.1% of the UK new car market in 2025 to 18.6% so far in 2026, with BYD now selling more than twice Tesla's UK volume. That's not a niche story anymore.
3. The van market is about to get interesting
Range remains a genuine challenge for larger commercial vehicles, but the picture is changing. BYD - already operating multiple electric CVs at scale in China - are set to enter the UK market next year, which will bring serious competition and choice to a segment that has been slower to move to electrification. For businesses looking to make the switch, there is support available. The plug-in van grant and depot charging scheme are both in place to help offset costs and ease the transition.
4. Charging is getting better - but cost is still a real barrier
The charging infrastructure picture is improving. More fast chargers, better coverage, and a more reliable experience overall. But cost remains a significant barrier, particularly for those without home charging. The irony isn't lost on anyone in the industry: with petrol now at 157.8p per litre, and diesel at 187.7p, the economic case for switching has never been stronger, yet public charging costs continue to undermine it for those who can't charge at home.
If you're relying solely on public charging, the economics still don't stack up in the way they should. The current government focus appears to be on driving EV ownership numbers rather than tackling the cost of charging itself. Until that changes, a meaningful portion of potential buyers will remain on the fence.
5. The momentum is real, even if the journey isn't over
The overriding feeling coming away from Everything Electric was one of cautious optimism. The products are better. The infrastructure is improving. The economics are shifting. The UK new car market is up 9% year-to-date, the SMMT has upgraded its full-year forecast to 2.09 million units, and the two-millionth UK EV was registered in April 2026. Battery electric vehicles now account for 26.2% of new car sales, with electrified vehicles as a whole making up 53.2% of all registrations. These aren't incremental numbers; they point to a structural shift already underway.
But there are still real barriers in retail confidence, charging costs, and public perception that the industry needs to tackle head on. For anyone working in or around the automotive space, Everything Electric is exactly the kind of event that serves as a reminder of how much is happening, and how much there is still to do.
