The number of people planning to buy an electric car has FALLEN – here are the main reasons why

THE number of people interested in buying an electric car has fallen in Britain according to a study.

As we move towards every new car in Britain being an EV from 2030, the results are at odds with the growing number of EV sales.

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The study of nearly 1000 motorists by CarGurus, found that despite petrol prices reaching record highs, UK motorists’ appetite for EVs has decreased versus the same study in 2021.

Most interestingly, potential ownership in the next five (44% vs 40%) and 10 years (66% vs 59%) both declined.

The results showed that the decrease in interest has come largely from the younger generation, with 18-29-year olds’ likelihood of EV adoption in the next 10 years dropping from 74% to 56%.

However, 30-44-year-old car buyers were increasingly open to buying an EV within the next decade, showing a 7% increase (65% to 72%) compared with 2021.

The study also revealed what the main reasons were for people deciding an EV wouldn’t work for them.

The biggest reason was the availability of charging stations (49%), then technological improvements such as battery range and charge time (47%), and then the difference in cost to petrol and diesel cars (43%).

It also showed that tax incentives and rebates (33%) were a substantial reason for people not wanting to make the switch.

This is likely since the Government announced it would be scrapping the electric car grant back in June 2022.

Alexandra Howerter, senior customer insights analyst at CarGurus, said: “Our research shows that we are still noting the same concerns around EVs that we have been hearing since they first started to emerge on the UK market, whether that be the availability of charge stations, or charging capacity improvements.

“Any future improvements to the electric vehicle infrastructure will seemingly have a positive impact on potential EV take up.”