A third of Brits will refuse to go electric: Auto Trader poll finds a third plan to stick with petrol and diesel cars until they stop driving
A third of drivers say they will never buy an electric car, even after the government banned the sale of new petrol and diesel models at the end of the decade.
Results of a survey of 1,467 motorists revealed that one in three has no interest in switching to a battery-powered car at any time.
They pledged to keep their current engine or buy used internal combustion engine cars until they finally hang up their driving gloves and surrender their licenses.
This despite the fact that electric vehicles are expected to become cheaper to buy in the coming years, in addition to already offering much lower running costs.
‘EV is not for me!’: Poll finds a third of Britons will refuse to own an electric car and will continue to drive petrol and diesel models until they surrender their license
When asked what factors would encourage them to make the switch to an electric model, Auto Trader’s survey found that 32% of drivers never intended to buy an electric vehicle, regardless of the incentives offered.
Of those more open-minded to change, 30% said they would only be interested if the upfront cost of electric vehicles dropped significantly.
The car sales platform says a typical electric car now costs 36% more than an equivalent petrol or diesel model, with Auto Trader saying there must be a drastic increase in the number of affordable models for help more drivers consider swapping their gasoline and diesel engines.
One of the UK’s most affordable and popular electric cars – the MG ZS Electric – costs nearly £8,400 more than its conventionally fueled equivalent at £25,465.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: ‘We are now less than seven years away from banning new petrol and diesel sales in the UK as part of the government’s 2030 ambitions, it is so extremely worrying that a third of drivers say they will simply never change.
“The market is suffering from a lack of affordable electric vehicle models, which new entrants this year should begin to address over time, but there are also concerns about the charging network.
“If we are to deliver on the ambitions of a greener and fairer society, ministers must be prepared to use the tax system to incentivize drivers to ensure they meet their targets – and reduce VAT by 20% on public charging would be a good start.’
Auto Trader said the government must take action to encourage more people to switch from combustion engine cars to electric vehicles, including helping to reduce prices and the cost of charging.
When it comes to other changes motorists said they want to see before considering buying an electric vehicle, more than one in ten (11%) called for a vehicle scrappage program gasoline and diesel to reduce the cost of an electric model.
Another 7% said cheaper public EV charging would also encourage them to make the switch.
At present, not only are the prices for public charging stations significantly higher than those that can be found by private users, especially when using off-peak tariffs, but VAT is also charged at 20% on public charging points, against a VAT rate of only 5% for those who have the possibility. to charge their car at home.
Auto Trader has calculated that electric vehicles are generally £87 per 1,000 miles cheaper than petrol or diesel cars – although this could change dramatically depending on the Chancellor’s decision whether or not to continue with the fuel duty freeze ( including the 5p-a-litre cut introduced a year ago) in next week’s budget.
Auto Trader’s survey found that almost half – or 47% – would resist going electric even after a fuel tax hike.
The Chancellor announced in her autumn statement in November that electric vehicles would also become subject to vehicle excise duties from 2025, further reducing their financial benefits for drivers and reducing potential demand – unlike previous years when the government encouraged change by offering various financial incentives.
