Although switching to electric vehicles is promoted, the government’s green initiative apparently overlooked the impact that the cost of living would have on the overall uptake.
The RAC Report on Motoring 2022 utilized a 30-minute online survey to collect data from 3102 UK drivers, as per Auto Car. It revealed that up to 14% of drivers intend to switch to electric vehicles when they replace their current ones. Remarkably, this is a significant increase from 10% in 2021 and 3% in 2018.
Yahoo Finance further reported that the percentage of drivers unsure when they will buy their first electric vehicle has climbed from 36% in 2021 to 42% this year.
RAC EV spokesman Simon Williams stated:
| “It’s great to see an increasing proportion of drivers saying they will go electric next time they change their vehicles, with more than twice as many saying their next vehicles will be zero-emission than before the pandemic. “But at the same time, it’s also very worrying that there are currently so many factors hindering take-up. A combination of the effects of COVID, ongoing availability issues in the new car market due to a global microchip shortage and the squeeze on household finances brought about by the cost-of-living crisis mean people keen to get into an electric vehicle/ are likely to put off doing so. Rising interest rates will also inevitably have a detrimental effect on the number of people who choose to buy new cars on finance. “It’s very important to realise, however, that for those who can afford to make the switch it’s still cheaper to drive electric. While the rising cost of domestic electricity means the savings aren’t as great as they were, those who can charge at home are able to save 10p a mile compared to those driving a 40-mpg petrol car.” |
According to the report, 77% of that 15% who said they would not change their car over the next five years merely cited their contentment with their present model. However, 14% highlighted increasing expenses for essentials like fuel and energy elsewhere. Meanwhile, 8% pointed the finger at the high costs of second-hand vehicles. Another 8% also stated that the pandemic had caused a decrease in their income.
On the other hand, concerns over the environmental effects of gasoline and diesel cars were stated by 66% of drivers as their top motivation for planning to switch to electric vehicles in 2021. However, this percentage dropped to 57% in 2022.
Another interesting point is that 56% of drivers who intend to purchase an electric vehicle in the future cite the convenience of home charging as a key benefit. Some 33% say electric cars would be more appropriate for their short journeys. According to 29% of respondents, electric cars’ less mechanically dependent nature attracts them. Meanwhile, 27% of people prefer not having to pay congestion or clean-air zone fees.
Despite the drivers’ motivation, a charging accessibility issue hinders them from switching. According to the RAC Report on Motoring, 33% of drivers do not have a place in their homes where they can charge an electric car. Meanwhile, another 16% can only park on the road without public charging stations nearby. It is also indicated that residential charging points cannot be installed by the 8% of drivers who rent their homes. Another 9% of drivers have a defined parking area but no place for a charger to be installed.
Considering these issues with charging points, Simon Williams warned,
| “We must not let the growing desire to go electric be derailed by rising electricity costs, higher interest rates, and vehicle availability issues. We urgently call on the government to reintroduce the £1,500 plug-in car grant for EVs below £30,000 as this had been successful in encouraging manufacturers to bring out cheaper models. The government should also reduce the rate of VAT on public charge points to 5% to ensure the third of people who can’t charge at home are not disadvantaged,” Williams said. “With the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars just over seven years away, it’s vital as many people as possible are able to switch to electric, and this will only happen if EVs become more affordable.” |
While the cost of living is clearly impacting the adoption of electric vehicles, the government should also consider other factors when creating rules and incentives to encourage drivers further to make the switch.
