With a ban on new petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030 coming into force, and many car manufactures spending more time and money on producing electric vehicles is it time to start thinking about making the switch to an electric car?
But the big question is, do people actually want to buy an electric car? In a recent survey by Tyre Shopper, they found that only 16.6.% of respondents would buy an electric car for their next vehicle, with diesel (33.6%) and petrol (28.4%) still being the most popular fuel choice.
Whilst we know that petrol and diesel are bad for the environment, what is it that’s stopping drivers from making the leap and investing in electric?
Price
Unsurprisingly one of the main reasons people aren’t choosing an electric vehicle is their relatively high up-front cost when compared with traditional fuel types. Tyre Shopper’s survey found that if money was no object then 39.6% of people would opt for an electric vehicle, followed closely by a hybrid model.
Range
Once of the main concerns for EV buyers is the lack of driving range and the uncertainty and availability of charging points. Whilst the UK’s electric charge network has been boosted by £300 million funding, there’s a still long way to go in order for drivers to feel confident when driving longer distances. Most EVs offer more than enough range to cover the average driver’s daily commute – but is that enough to warrant making the purchase? The jury’s still out.
Slow charging times
It takes longer to charge an electric vehicle than it does to fill up on fuel, although charging times are decreasing. Equally, the number of charging points are still relatively low, meaning you could have to wait not only for a port to become available, but then wait for your car to charge – which could prove to be a disaster for long journeys or journeys with a tight schedule.
Lack of availability
Even if you are in the market for an EV, not all dealerships sell electric vehicles. Whilst nationwide EV availability is growing, there is still a scarcity, not to mention the range of electric vehicles is limited. More traditional fuel type cater to more people, and at the minute there are very few electric cars that can cater to such a variety of needs.
Currently only 1.1% of drivers own an electric car and only 2.5% owning a hybrid. With the UK’s bid to become greener in less than a decade, it seems like we still have a long way to go.
