Top 10 factors that would persuade UK drivers to buy electric

Ease of charging, distance travelled on one charge and saving money are the top considerations for drivers when it comes to buying an electric car, according to new research.

In a survey of 2,000 UK drivers, commissioned by InsuretheGap.com, four-fifths of drivers answered what would make them more likely to buy an electric car, leaving a fifth that would not buy an electric vehicle (EV) in any circumstance.

The most important EV buying factor, according to almost half (46%), is the ability to quickly charge the car at home and in doing so not make a large dent in their electricity bill. This was followed by the need to have a national charging infrastructure in place (43%).

Top 10 factors that would make UK drivers buy an electric car

1. If I can charge the car at home quickly and it’s not expensive for my electricity bill – 46%
2. If the charging infrastructure is in place nationally – 43%
3. If I could travel at least 100 miles on a single charge – 38%
4. If I can save money because of its lower running and maintenance costs – 38%
5. If I can trust the technology – 33%
6. If the government offered a grant to those buying an electric vehicle -33%
7. If taxes were cheaper for those with an electric vehicle – 28%
8. If I trusted the government would not make electric vehicles more expensive in the future -23%
9. If I knew I was contributing to helping the environment – 16%
10. If I could use priority lanes in congested areas – 10%

“As UK ownership of electric cars grows it’s interesting to see what is holding people back from embracing this new, cleaner technology,” said Ben Wooltorton of InsuretheGap.com

“This survey shows that clearly there’s still a lot of hesitation when it comes to buying an electric car and until car manufacturers can improve their driving range; the national charging infrastructure is in place; and people feel they can trust the technology the sector will remain a slow burner, which still only represents about 6% of the latest 2019 registrations.”