The average advertised price of a new battery electric car in the UK has dropped below that of a new petrol model for the first time, according to automotive marketplace Autotrader, with electric vehicles now listed at £42,620 compared to £43,405 for petrol equivalents. The shift has been driven by a government grant of up to £3,750 introduced last summer, pressure on manufacturers to meet the UK's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate requiring carmakers to hit annual electric sales targets, and growing competition from lower-cost Chinese brands. While electric cars have long had cheaper running costs, the removal of the upfront price premium is seen as a significant step in accelerating adoption, though barriers such as patchy public charging infrastructure continue to affect drivers without home charging access.