Drivers have been warned they risk wasting millions on petrol and diesel costs this Summer, stuck in traffic jams on their way to music events.
New research revealed that 13 million adults will drive petrol and diesel vehicles to festivals this year, with nearly half expecting to spend at least an hour in standstill traffic, wasting roughly £539million in fuel.
The study found that 39 per cent of Britons plan to attend festivals this summer, with 49 per cent choosing to travel by car, with the average festival-goer driving 120 miles each way, spending £41.28 on fuel for the 240-mile round trip.
The data showed that 46 per cent of motorists will face delays of at least 60 minutes in standstill conditions, while 15 per cent risk enduring hold-ups of two hours or more.
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Petrol and diesel drivers spend on average £41.28 on fuel for the 240-mile round trip, compared with £4.20 for EVs
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Alex Thwaites, Director of EV at OVO, said: "If you do find yourself stuck in standstill traffic on the way to a festival, it's usually best to switch off rather than sit in idle.
"This can help stop you burning fuel, putting more money back in your pocket for festival season."
Festival-goers spend an average of three hours driving to events, with up to a third of that journey time lost to traffic congestion, the research from OVO detailed.
This means drivers risk burning fuel while going nowhere, adding unnecessary costs to their festival experience. The findings highlight how traffic delays significantly impact both journey times and fuel consumption.
Drivers of electric vehicles can save up to £37 on travelling costs compared to petrol and diesel cars
PAWith over 200,000 people expected at Glastonbury, the UK's biggest festival alone, congestion on major routes becomes inevitable as thousands of vehicles converge on festival sites across the country.
Experts have warned that travel woes extend beyond financial costs. The millions of petrol and diesel journeys are forecast to generate over one million tonnes of carbon emissions, specifically 1,065,273 tonnes according to OVO's calculations.
The environmental impact has also been substantial, with festival travel in traditional vehicles contributing significantly to the UK's carbon footprint.
Despite growing awareness of climate issues and many festivals adopting greener initiatives like banning single-use plastics and implementing recycling schemes, nearly half of all festival-goers continue to rely on fossil fuel vehicles for transport.
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Research showed that switching to electric vehicles could slash festival travel costs by up to 89 per cent, saving drivers money on journeys.
Reports found that EV drivers would pay just £4.20 for the same 240-mile round trip using OVO's Charge Anytime home-charging rate, compared to £41.28 for petrol and diesel vehicles.
If festival-goers made the switch to electric vehicles, the nation could save up to £480million in fuel costs, approximately £37 per driver.
Thwaites noted: "Both festival-goers and organisers are keen to reduce emissions, and travelling to festivals by EV can cut carbon by 74 per cent. It can also be 10 times cheaper to travel to and from your favourite festivals by EV, thanks to super affordable home charging rates like OVO's Charge Anytime."
More than 13 million people will set off for festivals this summer, with the majority travelling by car
PADespite environmental concerns, range anxiety remains a significant barrier to EV adoption for festival travel.
The research found 35 per cent of drivers worry about charging point availability near festival sites, while 36 per cent fear running out of power during their journey.
To address these concerns, OVO has mapped charging locations near major festival venues, including Bramham Park, Reading and Winchester.
The study revealed that 57 per cent of festival-goers would consider switching to electric vehicles for their journeys if the costs of owning were reduced.
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