We’re delighted to publish the second of our featured summaries from our ‘UK Car Survey’.
After receiving a total of 11,352 submissions up to and including 31st October, we thought it pertinent to highlight the key data & findings.
Following a lot of unsubstantiated and clearly biased news articles over the last 6-12 months, Electric Road wanted to get a real snapshot of current opinions on the electric car & wider UK car market from both existing & non-EV owners.
Given it’s been over 3 months since the survey was launched we thought it useful to provide a number of features which illustrate what UK drivers are thinking and doing or not doing when it comes to electric cars. We continue the series by looking at the responses from ICE owners towards electric cars and we’ve included some of the specific comments respondents gave in the survey form for added context.
Motivating factors to purchasing an EV (multiple answer)
Clearly, increased range and a better charging infrastructure would probably persuade many respondents to buy their first EV (22% of all answers to this question). Whether you personally think range isn’t an issue, the simple fact is that for many, it is. Having a tank full of fuel and putting it into your car is extremely convenient. Non-EV drivers are being continually asked to think about changing how they fuel their cars and it will be hard for many to make that switch when it’s so easy right now, environmental issues aside.
‘Until I can top-up in 5 minutes at any fuel station and drive for hours with full aircon or heating I’m not interested.’
‘Unless electric vehicles become as convenient as petrol and diesel vehicles and the infrastructure improves, electric vehicles will never be an option for many.’
‘One concern missed in the survey is charging time. Any longer then 10 minutes is not acceptable.’
Just over 20% of all answers signalled a big ‘No’ to buying an EV. We only have the response as ‘None’ but that in itself is quite telling. There’s a lack of trust from people as to what to believe and some people just don’t like being told what to think or do by others such as the Government. Some people haven’t forgotten the Labour Government’s push on diesel cars in late 90’s/early 00’s and so cynicism levels remain high. We do think that such feelings and reasoning drives a lot of negative EV opinion and maybe helps bolster some of the messaging from the anti-EV media.
‘I feel the green brigade are over stating the benefits of electric cars, and the upfront costs are understated. Also, the ability to charge vehicles has not been thought through. The grid won’t be able to cope and how are people who live in multi-storey flats supposed to charge cars. No, too many unanswered questions.’
Cost savings on fuel & maintenance are still a significant driver (14% of all answers) in encouraging ICE drivers to convert to electric, why wouldn’t they be? It’s the opposite for cost of purchase. There are more new electric models on the UK roads than ever and the used market is growing but there’s evidently a lack of confidence currently (in broad terms) in finding the right EV at the right price.
UK Car Survey – Have your say NOW!
Concerns or barriers to buying an EV (multiple answer)
Similar to the previous question, high upfront costs, concerns about public charging and limited driving range were the most popular answers taking 22%, 22% & 21% of all responses, respectively. This is followed closely by uncertainty about battery life with 19% of all answers. Only 12% of responses were indicating no desire to have an EV though.
‘It’s hard to justify the upfront cost of an EV when I have a decently reliable 12yr old car that was fully paid off long ago. So many comparisons are against the cost of an equivalent new petrol car and I agree the numbers make sense there. Pay more upfront, save on fuel & maintenance, but we’re talking an upfront cost of 30 grand vs 0 if I keep my current car alive.’
‘I live in a sixth-floor flat, how exactly am I supposed to charge an EV? Because without home charging they are way too expensive to run.’
‘It’s clear EVs are the future but if the roll-out is not to stall we need massive investments in and standardisation of rapid charging on motorways and A-roads. I fear there is a risk that because of the failure of the government to back large scale charging infrastructure, the anti-EV press will succeed in slowing the transition by playing on peoples fears that they will be unable to charge on longer journeys. I have experienced this when hiring EVs (other than Tesla) and I can only see this getting worse as BEVs continue to ramp up.’
‘Adoption of EVs would improve if the media stopped scare mongering and telling blatant lies about fires and breaking multi-storey car parks etc.’
UK Car Survey – Have your say NOW!
How concerned are you about the environmental impact of ICE cars?
(1 being not concerned at all and 5 being very concerned)
‘Electric vehicles are far from green, changing vehicles regularly is the least green thing and bad for the environment.’
‘Electric vehicles feel like a con to me. I believe that the production on electric cars and installing the infrastructure is far les green than we are led to believe. Factor in scrapping perfectly good cars and electric doesn’t make sense. Alternative fuels that can be used in existing cars appears to make far more sense.’
‘My perception of EVs is the harm to the environment in production and running outweighs the need, better trying to find synthetic fuels and use ICE vehicles.’
‘Investment should be made in bio fuels and hydrogen instead of being forced down the EV route which are by no means green like they are portrayed.’
‘Synthetic fuels have the potential to be truly net zero which batteries can never be. They can be used in existing older vehicles which reduces impact even further. We should be pushing for synthetic fuel development instead.’
UK Car Survey – Have your say NOW!
Perception of overall reliability of EVs v ICE cars
Given respondents are ICE owners you’d expect them to favour the ICE car for reliability, hence 64% consider EVs to be much less or somewhat less reliable than their current cars. Equally, we don’t know what experience they have of EVs.
‘Survey assumes I will replace my existing car. I expect to keep my existing car for a lifespan of at least 20 years. The biggest risk to this approach is of course the availability of petrol beyond 2040 when it is quite possible fuel demand will have reduced to a level that results in all/most fuel refineries being shut down permanently.’
‘My husband bought a new electric car and it has been nothing but trouble. Three new batteries, constant breakdowns and unable to complete a journey to Wales to visit relatives without at least a 45-minute stop to recharge. I’m sticking to my 12-year old Fiesta. Totally reliable. Wouldn’t have an electric car if you paid me!’
‘I see too much emphasis on unusable performance by EV manufacturers. The drive to get me to buy an EV ignores the fact that my current vehicles are not due for replacement.’
‘EVs are an answer to a problem that doesn’t exist. The ICE vehicle is the result of nearly 140 years of development and to throw it away in a decade is folly.’
UK Car Survey – Have your say NOW!
What information about EVs do you believe to be true? (multiple answer)
Whatever you think of the above, we can only recognise what others are thinking right now. People choose a car for numerous reasons, both logically & emotionally, and ultimately it needs to fit their personal requirements. So for the next 12 years, the consumer has more choice than ever before or ever will.
