Electric vehicle drivers have revealed the top questions they get asked about their cars – including “how long does it take to charge the battery?”.
The most common question EV drivers receive is “do you charge your car at home?” – while “do you have to plan your journeys more carefully now?” is also among the most popular.
Over half (51%) of the 500 motorists polled claim they get bombarded with questions after revealing they drive a battery-powered vehicle.
And 83% even think that people sometimes act differently around them after learning what they drive.
But more than three-quarters (78%) admitted to believing a misconception before owning an EV, which they now know not to be true.
Among the most commonly believed myths include there being too many different sockets on vehicles (39%), and the electricity grid not being able to cope if everyone charged their car at once (34%).
Others believed that EVs cannot travel far (37%), and that they take a long time to charge (34%).
However, it also emerged nearly eight in ten (79%) think there is a need for more public charging points – as 63% have had to stop mid-journey to recharge their car.
Henry Duff, head of net zero at British Gas, which commissioned the research, said: “EV adoption levels continue to rocket as more drivers realise the full potential of making the switch to electric.
“Yet, as demand for EVs intensifies, we must ensure that the UK’s charging network is ready for drivers to access reliable, convenient, and easy to operate charge points.
“If we’re not careful, we could stall the good progress made to encourage more motorists to adopt EVs.”
When talking about their habits behind the wheel, 82% will typically drive slower than the speed limit to save energy.
And the average driver reduces their speed by 15% compared to when they drove a diesel or petrol car.
Meanwhile more than a third (37%) are now more aware of how many miles it takes to reach a destination, because of their eco-friendly car.
And 35% keep the battery between 20% to 80% charged – with 34% planning their journey more meticulously to include charging stops.
It also emerged 82% claim passengers who get in an EV for the first time react differently when they turn the car on without it making a sound.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found three-quarters (73%) of EV drivers believe people assume they have lots of disposable income, because they own an electric vehicle.
Henry Duff added: “Switching to an EV requires a change in mindset – from the way you drive, to how you refuel and maintain the vehicle.
“Driving at a slower speed is a common habit newly converted EV drivers adopt – this help to keep the energy consumption low, boosts the battery’s range, and allows you to go further for longer.
“Many motorists will still be wary about making the change from petrol to electric, which is why it is so important that policy makers continue to make the transition to electric seamless by accelerating the roll out of the UKs charging infrastructure, and providing incentives to make EVs affordable and accessible to all.”
TOP 20 COMMON QUESTIONS EV DRIVERS GET ASKED:
- Do you charge your car at home?
- How long does it take to charge the battery?
- Have you ever not been able to find anywhere to charge your car?
- Do you ever worry about the battery dying on you whilst driving?
- Do you find you have to plan your journeys more carefully now?
- Can you plug the power cable into a normal three-pin plug socket?
- Is it fiddly to charge?
- Does the car move slower when there is less battery?
- Is it a lot slower than a traditionally-fuelled vehicle?
- Who would you call if your car broke down?
- Do you just not go on long car journeys anymore?
- Do you continue to pay for electricity if the car is charging even when the battery is full?
- Is it safe to go through a car wash?
- Can people hear you better outside the car because there's no engine noise?
- Do you need a different driving license to own one?
- Does it still need an MOT?
- Can you still charge your car even if it's raining?
- Do you need to replace your battery every five years?
- Which size batteries do they take?
- Can you drive your car in the rain?
