RECORD fuel pump prices mean nearly half of UK car drivers are thinking of swapping to an electric vehicle, according to a major study.
The online poll of more than 2000 UK car owners for The Motor Ombudsman found 48 per cent are concerned about having a pure petrol or diesel-powered vehicle – making a switch to a battery electric machine for their next purchase more likely.
The figures were revealed as the Government announced it was scrapping its plug-in car grant scheme that gave drivers a discount of up to £1500 off the price of some new EVs.
But the cost of filling up an average family car with a 55-litre fuel tank recently hit £100 for the first time, while the price of petrol has equally surpassed £8-a-gallon, a figure never seen before in this country.
And industry experts reckon that means EVs still remain economically very attractive for many motorists.
The Motor Ombudsman survey showed that individuals aged between 16 to 24 (64 per cent) are among the most worried about fossil-fuel vehicles.
The findings were published to mark the launch of the organisation’s EV information hub, TMO EVolVE, on TheMotorOmbudsman.org website.
Survey analysis further revealed that out of those worried about owning a conventional motor and favouring a move to plugging in, a quarter of male drivers reckoned they would buy an electric car within two to three months.
And the younger generation also led the charge in terms of being the fastest to make the swap to electric out of any other age group, with 33 per cent stating that a change could be on the cards within eight to 12 weeks.
Chief ombudsman Bill Fennell said: “With fuel costs at unprecedented levels, it is clear from our survey that the prospect of EV ownership is becoming increasingly attractive.”
Neil Swanson, director of the influential Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, was also optimistic about the ongoing uptake of EVs, despite the news from Westminster.
He said: “It is encouraging that help is available for the purchase of second-hand EVs, making them more affordable to everyone looking to make the transition.
“The Scottish motoring public and those in fleet and utility markets have taken an impressive lead in the transition to EVs and continue to forge ahead. This momentum must be encouraged at every level.”
An EVA Scotland spokesman added: “There is unlikely to be a slowdown in the numbers of drivers making the switch to electric transportation anytime soon.
“The positives far outweigh the negatives. EV manufacturers are well aware that there is inequality between electric and traditional new car prices but evidence shows they are addressing this issue.”
Independent advice group The Car Expert reckons the Government decision to axe its EV grant scheme could even benefit buyers.
It claims the pattern of the automotive industry over time suggests that this cost is likely to be absorbed by car manufacturers, who will reduce the price of EVs to minimise the impact on customers.
Additionally, a redirection of Government investment into improving charging infrastructure will benefit a much larger number of electric car buyers in coming years.
The Car Expert’s Stuart Masson said: “Right now, the greatest need is to ramp up the roll-out of on-street charging points across the UK.
“Better charging points will also help encourage growth of the used electric vehicle marketplace, which does not benefit from government handouts anyway.”
Mike Coulton, EV consultant at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, reflected: “It is hugely disappointing that more is not being done to encourage lower-income households in the transition to EVs.
“Maintaining or even increasing the grant for the least-expensive EVs to make them more affordable and encourage manufacturers to produce electric cars at a lower price-point could have been a strong incentive.
“That said, the Government’s focus on further improving public charging, while still incentivising adoption in other areas of the vehicle market such as LCVs, is to be welcomed.”
Alex Hasty, director at comparethemarket.com, added: “Despite rising energy bills, our figures show an electric vehicle is typically more than £550 cheaper to run each year compared with a petrol car.”
