They say they will stick with their battery-powered vehicles in advance of the Government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
What Car? surveyed 563 EV owners to gain an insight into their purchasing decisions in the current climate. There are more than half a million EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles on Britain’s roads, with sales of these models accounting for nearly 15% of the new car market so far this year.
A total of 65% of respondents said they won’t go back to petrol and diesel cars for environmental reasons.
A further 62% said the technology and plug-in cars will keep improving, so can’t identify a reason to return to using a motor that runs on fossil fuel.
More than half (56%) of respondents said they would stick with battery-powered models because of lower running costs, while half said they believe EVs are better to drive.
Meanwhile, more than a third cited the 2030 ban – announced in November 2020 – as their reason for not switching back to fossil fuel cars.
Only 10% of EV owners said they are considering reverting to petrol or diesel cars in the future. The main reason given – cited by 51% of respondents – was to have a vehicle with better range.
Some 20% said it was because of the need to own a cheaper car in the future, while 15% said they believe petrol and diesel technology will improve in the future, making them more sustainable.
The research also unearthed the reasons electric and plug-in hybrid owners chose their vehicle to begin with, with 65% saying they wanted to own a car that was better for the environment.
Nearly half also gave lower running costs as a factor, while the new technology aspect appealed to 43% of owners.
Tax savings were also highlighted as a reason by 26% of owners. This includes Benefit in Kind tax in 2020-2021, which has risen to 1% this year and will next increase to 2%.
- Electric cars – a definitive guide and tips for buyers
- Are electric cars really better for the environment?
- Should I get a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car?
Rachael Prasher, managing director of What Car?, said: “With new electric and plug-in models arriving in showrooms nearly every month, it’s no surprise to see electric vehicles growing in popularity.
“The vast majority of electric owners no longer seeing themselves owning a petrol or diesel car in the future is a testament to the quality and capability of modern electric cars on sale today.
“As the average range of a new electric car improves over time, it’s likely the share of electric car owners wanting a petrol or diesel car in the future will only diminish.”
What Car? says its research should be used as a strong indicator by manufacturers that consumers value the environmental credentials of EVs just as highly as their lower running costs.
Have you made the switch? Would you go back or are you staying electric? Let us know why in the comments below.
RAC Breakdown Cover
Join the RAC and get breakdown cover. Our patrols fix 4 out of 5 vehicles on the spot, with repairs done in just 30 minutes on average.
