Majority expect to own electric car by 2022, claims survey
More than half of British motorists expect their main car to be electric within the next five years, according to a major new survey.
The poll of 1,000 car owners was conducted to mark the launch of Total EV – a new website dedicated to hybrid and electric cars.
While the results highlight the fast pace at which Brits are being switched on to the benefits of mains-powered motoring, it also showed that there are still barriers to ownership and that the Government and automotive industry has to do more to convince every motorist.
Problems cited include the cost of vehicles (27%), lack of charging infrastructure (22%), driving range (20%) and lack of knowledge (21%).
Say businessman Daniel Green, the founder of Total EV:
“The world is moving away from petrol and diesel to electric. The public wants it, the Government wants it, and the environment needs it. But where are the manufacturers and how and when should drivers get involved? There are confusing offers, bewildering charging options and genuine anxiety around range, depreciation and when to jump in.
“This survey confirms what we already suspected – that Britain has woken up to the benefits of electric driving. The industry needs to wake up fast.
Adds Green:
“There are already 110,000 plug-in cars across the country but as technology and infrastructure improves over the next few years and more manufacturers enter the marketplace offering more choice to consumers, we expect to see a transformation in the number of EVs on Britain’s roads.
For more information about the survey and Electric Vehicles, visit www.totalEV.com.
The survey revealed:
- 51% of British motorists expect to buy an electric car within five years
- Change is being driven by men, with 60% of male drivers expecting to drive an EV within five years compared to 42% of women
- 45% of motorists cite rising fuel prices as the reason for change while only 36% are driven by environmental concerns
- Northern Ireland, where charging infrastructure is more developed, has the highest proportion ready to switch to electric (77%)
