Urgent warning to drivers looking to buy an EV as owners blast lack of charging points, cost and ‘range anxiety’
AN URGENT warning has been issued to drivers looking to buy an EV as owners blast the lack of charging points, cost and “range anxiety”.
Research by Auto Trader revealed just 47 per cent of drivers consider that owning an EV would fit in with their lifestyle.
Based on a poll of 4,000 drivers across the UK, the latest Road to 2030 report found fewer than half of drivers are currently willing to embrace electric cars.
Concerns over affordability and charging are currently preventing consumers from making the switch.
The UK’s largest online vehicle marketplace survey shows that 56 per cent of drivers consider EVs too expensive, while 47 per cent are worried over a lack of charging points.
Despite the average household only needing to plug in once a week, two-fifths of drivers believe they would have to charge their cars every three days.
The affordability barriers are underlined by the shrinking of new EVs on sale for less than £30,000, with just nine models now compared to 11 at the end of 2022.
The handful of affordable new EVs contrasts with 87 diesel and petrol models on sale below £30,000.
New EVs are still on average 33 per cent more expensive than traditionally fuelled vehicles, throwing up further barriers to mass market adoption.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: “There is still much more work to be done to achieve a mass transition to electric vehicles before the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel models and ensure no driver is left behind.
“Support from the tax system to put the used EV market on a more sustainable footing is vital for the sustainability of the entire EV market and our chances of successfully transitioning to EVs by 2030.”
Plummer continued: “Consumers are still worried about affordability and charging, which is why we need a clear statement of intent from the Government.
“Penalising drivers who have to charge in public with higher VAT is simply unfair: we need to end this charging injustice.
“Those charging their EVs at home can save £142 per 1000 miles compared to a £41 saving for EV drivers using public charging points.
“There are real benefits to be had but they need to be shared more widely across society.”