Price, access to charging, range the barriers to electric vehicle purchases – survey

A YouGov survey carried out on behalf of the NFDA has asked more than 2,000 respondents for the main barrier preventing them from buying an electric vehicle. The NFDA concentrated its research on the 1,419 who owned at least one car.

29 per cent said the price of the vehicle represented the main barrier, while nearly one in four (24 per cent) said that access to charging points – both at home (12 per cent) and during journeys (12 per cent) – was their main concern. 22 per cent added that the battery range of vehicles was the primary reason preventing them from purchasing an electric car.

Other issues included battery charge times, low number of garages able to repair electric vehicles and poor driving experience.

“It is vital that the Government takes this into consideration and continues to actively encourage, alongside the automotive industry, the uptake of electric vehicles,” said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA).

The evidence was used by the NFDA to respond to a business, energy & industrial strategy committee inquiry about the electric vehicle market and its development.

Robinson continued, “Sales of electric vehicles are growing, but their market share is still very low. Consumers need to feel confident enough to switch to greener cars and a well-coordinated cross industry approach must be put in place to support them.

“The government’s commitment is reassuring, but further significant investment in infrastructure, as well as an extension of the grant, are essential, as lack of charging points and cost still represent the two main barriers.” The government grant for electric cars, vans and motorcycles is in place until March 2018 and will be reviewed in October 2017.

“It is positive to see that the NFDA’s submission has been published and our concerns are being taken into consideration, we will continue to work with the Government to support the introduction of low emission vehicles including electric.”