Independent UK car coverage
The car market, read properly.
TurningCircle covers the UK car market and the switch to electric, with the data behind every claim. All figures link to their sources, and nothing here is sponsored.
Latest articles
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Halfway Through: The ZEV Mandate Review Is Open and the Arguments Are In
The government's consultation on the future of the zero emission vehicle mandate closes next month. What is being reviewed, what each side wants, and what it means for car buyers.
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Three Days Until Twickenham: What to See at Everything Electric
The UK's biggest home energy and electric vehicle show opens at Allianz Stadium on Friday. What is on, who it is for, and how to get value from a day there.
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What Summer 2026 Told Us About the Car Market
Nine months of growth, a plug-in hybrid surge, a used market that turned, and an electric share hovering around a quarter. The summer's data, read as one story.
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Charging Deserts: The Rural Gap in Britain's EV Network
Britain now has 175 public chargers per 100,000 people, but the average hides a two-speed country. Where the gaps are, why they persist, and what is being done about them.
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The Insurance Gap: What It Really Costs to Insure an Electric Car
Electric cars are cheaper to run but dearer to insure, with the average premium running about £150 above a petrol equivalent. Here is why the gap exists, and which way it is heading.
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The Electric Car Grant So Far: What the Money Has Actually Done
More than a year after launch and with an extra £1.3 billion behind it, the grant has reshaped the price of going electric. Here is what the evidence says it has and has not achieved.
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The Price Gap Has Flipped: Used EVs Now Cost Less Than the Petrol Equivalent
Second-hand electric cars are now an average of £1,800 cheaper than comparable petrol and diesel models, while prices on the forecourt push the other way. Here is how the crossover happened.
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Where Public Charging Prices Stand Going Into Autumn
Our regular check on what UK drivers actually pay per kWh on the public network: July's averages, the membership effect, and the arithmetic that decides whether charging beats petrol.
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The 76 Plate Is Here: What September's Number Plate Change Means for the Car Market
September 1 marks the arrival of the 76 plate, the second-biggest moment in the UK car retail calendar. Here is why one month carries so much weight, and what 2026's edition will tell us.
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Before You Buy a Used EV: The Checks That Actually Matter
The used EV market has turned: record sales, rising prices and healthier batteries than most buyers expect. Here is the checklist before you hand over any money.
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Hybrids Are the Quiet Winners of 2026
While electric cars grab the headlines, plug-in hybrids are growing faster than any other powertrain in Britain. Here is what the numbers say, and when a hybrid makes sense.
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Does the Electric Car Grant Actually Work? The Evidence One Year On
The Electric Car Grant has been applied to more than 140,000 new EVs. But buyer awareness is low and most cars get the smaller discount. We weigh the evidence.
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Everything Electric Twickenham: What to Expect at the UK's Biggest EV Show
Everything Electric arrives at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on 11-12 September with test drives, theatre sessions and new EV unveilings. Here is the practical preview.
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Small EVs and City Driving: Why the Maths Works Best in Town
Most UK car trips are under five miles, and small electric cars are now the cheapest new cars in Britain. Here is why city driving is where electric makes the most sense.
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Rapid Charging Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of the UK's Public Chargers
Most EV drivers use public rapid chargers only occasionally, which makes the shared norms matter more. The charging etiquette that keeps queues short and tempers cool.
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The EV Mandate Gap: How Far the UK Electric Car Market Is From Its Own Target
The ZEV mandate asks for 33% of new cars to be electric by the end of 2026. The latest SMMT registrations show how close the market is to the line.
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How Far Do UK Drivers Actually Drive? The Data Behind the Miles
Most car journeys in Britain are under five miles, and the average person travels just over 6,000 miles a year. The official numbers matter more than you might think.
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The Electric Car Grant Eligible Cars List: Every Model That Qualifies in 2026
Eighteen electric cars now carry the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant discount. Here is the complete eligible list, how the bands work, and what to check before you order.
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Home Battery Storage for EV Drivers: When a Wall of Power Makes Sense
A home battery can cut the cost of electric motoring further, storing cheap off-peak electricity for your car and your kettle. We look at the numbers behind the trend.
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Finding the Right Electric Car in 2026: What the Numbers Say and Which Models We Recommend
Registration data, used-market numbers and grant changes paint a clear picture of electric car buying in the UK this year, plus the models worth your money in each segment.
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The 76-Plate Preview: What to Expect When September's Number Plate Arrives
The new 76 plate lands on 1 September. We look at the state of the market heading into plate-change month, and what the data says buyers should expect.
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Winter EV Range Myths: What Actually Happens When the Temperature Drops
How much range does an electric car really lose in UK winter? Real test data separates the myths from the measurable facts before the cold arrives.
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ZEV Mandate Flexibilities: Why Vans, Not Cars, Are the Regulation's Real Test
Electric vans hit 9.5% of sales against a 16% target in 2025, yet the market still complied. Inside the flexibilities, and the review now questioning them.
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Why EVs Are Cheaper to Service: The Maintenance Maths Behind the Saving
An EV service costs about £103 against £151 for petrol, and the gap widens over five years. The reasons are mechanical, not promotional.
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Fuel Duty vs the Electric Mile: What the Tax on Driving Actually Costs You
Fuel duty adds over 6p in tax to every mile a petrol car drives. An electric mile pays nothing, for now. The full comparison, in pence per mile.
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Do You Actually Need a 7kW Wallbox? The Honest Answer for UK EV Drivers
The average UK car covers about 20 miles a day, and a 3-pin plug can replace that overnight. So do you really need a 7kW home charger? The honest maths.
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Motorway Service Chargers: What Long-Distance EV Charging Actually Looks Like in 2026
From 12 charging bays to 48 at a single M5 services, motorway charging has changed fast. What the network offers now, and how to use it well.
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Battery Health and Longevity: What the Data Actually Says About How Long EV Batteries Last
The biggest UK battery health study found an average state of health of 95%. Here is what real degradation data says about how long an EV battery really lasts.
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Record Quarter: The Used EV Market Just Passed a Milestone
Used electric car sales jumped 67% in Q2 2026 to a record 110,761 cars and 5.5% of the second-hand market. We look at what is driving it and what happens next.
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July 2026 Registrations, Read Properly: What the Numbers Actually Say
The UK car market grew 11.7% in July and BEVs took a 27.5% share. We unpack the SMMT figures, the easy misreadings and what they mean for the rest of 2026.
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The 3p Per Mile Question: How the 2028 EV Road Charge Will Actually Work
From April 2028 electric cars pay 3p per mile and plug-in hybrids 1.5p. We explain the eVED rules, the OBR numbers behind them and what it means for your running costs.
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EV Depreciation: Are Electric Cars Finally Holding Their Value?
Used EV prices recorded their first annual rise since 2022 in June, and depreciation is slowing. We look at what the residual value data says for buyers and sellers.
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What You Actually Pay Per kWh: Public Charging Prices Explained
Public charging averages 54p per kWh at slower chargers and 80p at rapids. We break down what drives the difference, and how to keep your cost per mile down.
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The Chinese Brands Have Arrived: What It Means for UK Car Buyers
One in five new cars sold in Britain this year is expected to wear a Chinese badge. We look at how BYD, Omoda, Jaecoo and friends got here, and what it means for your next car.
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Company Car Tax and EVs in 2026/27: The 4% Question
Electric company cars sit in a 4% BiK band this tax year, a fraction of what petrol and diesel cars attract. Here is how the numbers work for drivers and employers.
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July Data: What to Watch When the SMMT Numbers Land
The SMMT publishes July registration figures this morning. Early independent numbers point to another strong EV month. Here is how to read the release like an analyst, not a headline.
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How Much Does a Home EV Wallbox Actually Cost?
A fitted 7kW home charger typically costs around £1,000, and a £500 government grant covers many households. Here is the honest breakdown of wallbox costs in 2026.
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The State of UK Public Charging, Summer 2026
The UK passed 121,000 public EV chargers this summer. We look at what the network actually looks like on the ground, where it is growing fastest, and what still needs fixing.
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How ZEV Mandate Credit Trading Actually Works
Car makers that sell too many petrol cars can buy their way out of trouble under the ZEV mandate. Here is how the credit trading system works, and why it shapes the deals you see in showrooms.
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Half-Year Review: The UK Car Market's Electric Turn in 2026
June 2026 was the first month ever where battery electric cars took 30% of the UK new car market. We look at what the first half of the year really says about where things are heading.