ELECTRIC and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners travel further in their cars over the space of a week than those driving petrol or diesel cars, according to new research by Peugeot.

In a study of 1,800 UK drivers - with a proportionate mix of electric, hybrid, petrol and diesel car owners - the French car maker found electric and plug-in hybrid owners cover on average 109 miles in their cars per week, compared to just 88 miles per week for petrol and diesel owners.

Drivers of plug-in hybrid electric cars were found to make up the most miles in a week, covering on average 127 miles, while petrol vehicles travelled the least distance in a week, with an average mileage of 81 miles.

Fully electric vehicle owners were found to cover 91 miles per week, just shy of the 94 miles covered by diesel owners.

The research comes ahead of the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which will see only fully electric vehicles being exempt from paying congestion charges from October 25.

Less than a fifth (18 per cent) of petrol and diesel drivers said they drive more than 200 miles on average in a week.

That means most drivers would be able to make their weekly miles comfortably on a single charge of new Peugeot e-208 with its range of up to 217 miles or with the Peugeot e-2008 which is capable of 206 miles on a single charge.

Despite electric vehicle owners travelling further than petrol drivers, and covering nearly the same distance as diesel motorists, the research showed that range anxiety is still a major concern for internal combustion engine drivers thinking of making the switch to fully electric cars.

Some 36 per cent of ICE drivers say the range of electric vehicles is the biggest factor stopping them from making the switch, whilst electric vehicle cost (53 per cent and a lack of public charging infrastructure (43 per cent) were other leading concerns.

Up to the end of March 2022, Peugeot customers with off street parking can receive up to £350 in grant funding towards a home charge point, and the company is also offering a free six month charging subscription to BP Pulse with every new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle which gives access to a network of charge points in the UK.