Motorists less concerned over EV range but many still won't make the switch

Only 15 per cent have said they will definitely be making the switch to an EV or hybrid vehicle when they next purchase a car or choose an alternative company vehicle, according to a new survey from Venson Automotive Solutions.

Fifty per cent meanwhile said they don’t envisage considering it for another 10-15 years, if not longer.

These findings could hamper the government's Road to Zero strategy, Venson warns. Just a year ago, 85 per cent of motorists surveyed by Venson said they would seriously consider buying an EV.

Of the 200 people surveyed, 38 per cent said that they will consider an EV within their options when they next purchase a car, and 28 per cent confirmed they have no intention of doing so for the next 10-15 years. Almost one in five (19 per cent) said they refuse to switch until there is no other option available to them.

Whilst charging and mileage range remain the biggest deterrents for motorists when making a decision about EV, the good news is that one year on, there is less of a concern about these matters. The number of people concerned about limited mileage fell from 61 per cent in 2017 to 45 per cent in 2018. The only EV concern to grow year on year was ‘safety concerns regarding the battery’, but this remains one of the smallest deterrents for would-be owners.

38 per cent of those surveyed said that the practicalities of being able to charge their vehicle at home was an ownership hurdle.

Although overall more people feel they have a better understanding of the EV ownership experience, concerns relating to the cost implications of owning one, including, servicing, repairs and insurance remain at the same level as those reported in 2017.