Despite rhetoric and challenging climate change targets, practical measures are needed before mainstream motorists will be convinced to buy electric vehicles, according to the AA president, when addressing the BP Chargemaster conference, by in London today (8 May 2019).
An AA-Populus poll of 19,350 drivers found the biggest current stumbling block for more than one third (35%) of drivers is the higher cost of Electric Vehicles compared to their petrol or diesel equivalent.
When asked ‘what would it take for you to choose a battery electric vehicle?’ the responses were:
- 35% – EVs cost the same (or less) than petrol/diesel
- 33% – Real world range > 250 miles on a single charge
- 27% – A lot more charging points where I park
- 25% – Hundreds of rapid chargers along strategic roads
- 16% – More choice of cars
- 15% – Penalties for driving petrol/diesel become too high
New laws to encourage take-up of plug-in vehicles
Drivers were also asked “To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following possible regulatory ideas that could be introduced to encourage the take-up of more plug-in vehicles – Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)?”
The most popular proposals were:
The ideas that drivers were least likely to agree with were:
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) should be allowed to use bus lanes (64% disagree)
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) should be allowed to use bus lanes (62% disagree)
Charging is all rather confusing
King also told the conference that half of drivers find the whole subject of charging rather confusing due to different types, speeds, payment methods and connectors. This leads to more than three-quarters (77%) supporting a uniform method of accessing public charging points.
Drivers are divided on the idea of green number plates for plug-in vehicles with just under two fifths (37%) supporting the idea and just over a fifth (22%) opposed to it.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “It is easy to say that all new cars should be electric by 2030 or 2035 or any arbitrary date but the reality is that much still needs to be done in terms of addressing the legitimate concerns of drivers regarding cost and supply of vehicles, as well as, improving range and the ease of charging.