Electric vehicles will be cars of choice by 2022, driver survey suggests

More than half of British motorists expect their main car to be electric within the next five years, according to a survey. The poll of 1,000 car owners was conducted by Total EV, a new website covering the electric vehicle and hybrid markets. 

The survey revealed:

• 51% of British motorists expect to buy an electric car within five years
• Change is being driven by men, with 60% of male drivers expecting to drive an EV within five years compared to 42% of women
• 45% of motorists cite rising fuel prices as the reason for change while only 36% are driven by environmental concerns
• Northern Ireland, where charging infrastructure is more developed, has the highest proportion ready to switch to electric (77%) 

The survey also showed that there are still barriers to ownership. Problems cited include the cost of vehicles (27%), lack of charging infrastructure (22%), driving range (20%) and lack of knowledge (21%).

Businessman Daniel Green, founder of Total EV, said: “The world is moving away from petrol and diesel to electric. The public wants it, the government wants it, and the environment needs it. But where are the manufacturers and how and when should drivers get involved? There are confusing offers, bewildering charging options and genuine anxiety around range, depreciation and when to jump in.

“There are already 110,000 plug-in cars across the country, but as technology and infrastructure improves over the next few years and more manufacturers enter the marketplace offering more choice to consumers, we expect to see a transformation in the number of EVs on Britain’s roads. This is the biggest thing to happen to motoring since Henry Ford.”