Zapmap updated its She drives electric guide on 26 February 2026, a page written by Nic Ryan that covers charging terminology, safety on the public network and cheaper ways into electric car ownership1. The update draws on Zapmap's own charging survey and on research by Auto Trader and Chargesafe1.
Zapmap's latest EV charging survey of over 4,000 electric car drivers found that only 12% of respondents were female, and a separate Auto Trader survey, No Driver Left Behind, found that only 7% of women currently owned an EV, compared to 16% of men1. On charging, 43% of women were worried about EV charging times, compared to just 35% of men, and the guide says women were more likely to view charging as "risky"1. Chargesafe research covering a sample of 817 public charging locations in the UK found that 87% had poor lighting and 77% did not have security cameras1.
The guide sets out charging basics in plain terms: a kilowatt is one thousand watts, a kilowatt-hour measures the energy delivered by one kilowatt of power for one hour, and charging prices are mostly quoted per kWh, for example 79p/kWh1. It notes that approximately 1.8 million fully electric cars are on UK roads, and that the average car journey is around 10 to 15 miles1. On cost, it says a second-hand EV could be found for as low as £4,000 with reasonably low mileage, and describes salary sacrifice, where a portion of pre-tax salary goes towards leasing an EV, usually including servicing, insurance and tax1.
On charging away from home, the guide points to on-street provision in the form of lamppost or bollard-style devices rated 3 to 7kW for overnight recharging, and notes that distribution remains patchy because some local authorities are further ahead than others1. Zapmap's separate live data guide, also updated on 26 February 2026, states that more than 95% of the UK's public chargers appear on its app and desktop map, and that over 80% show live status on a twenty-four seven basis2. Zapmap's destination charging guide says destination chargers generally range from 7kW to 50kW, with a 7kW unit charging a car from 0-80% within several hours and a 22kW unit within one to two hours5.
"I've had my electric car for four years and would never even think about going back to petrol."
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric car, the guide's figures describe who currently owns one and who does not: 7% of women against 16% of men in the Auto Trader sample1. Charging at home is the cheapest and most convenient route where a driveway or off-street parking exists, but the guide is explicit that renters, flat dwellers and those without off-street parking depend on public or on-street provision, which it describes as unevenly distributed1. The Chargesafe findings on lighting and cameras at 817 locations bear directly on whether a household is willing to rely on public charging at night1. The guide also notes that most charge point operators say they power their charge points using renewable energy, and that some home energy providers offer green tariffs, though it does not name them or give rates1. Zapmap's live data pages state that over 80% of charge points on its map show availability status, which affects how much a driver can plan around a charger being free2.
What happens next
The guide cites the 2035 ban on the production of petrol and diesel motors in the UK as the backdrop to the switch1. No further dated commitments are given in the material.
Sources6 cited
- She drives electric: Navigating EV ownership and charging with confidence - Zapmap, zap-map.com
- What is live data on Zapmap – and how does it help electric car drivers? - Zapmap, zapmap.com
- What is live data on Zapmap – and how does it help electric car drivers? - Zapmap, zap-map.com
- What is live data on Zapmap – and how does it help electric car drivers? - Zapmap, zap-map.com
- What is destination charging? - Zapmap, zap-map.com
- What is destination charging? - Zapmap, zap-map.com