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Survey reveals EV misconceptions
Date: 13 January 2022 | Author: Sean Keywood
Research about attitudes towards EVs has revealed a high level of misconceptions and driver ignorance, according to salary sacrifice and fleet management company Fleet Evolution.
A survey carried out for the firm by Aston University questioned 10,000 subjects, including drivers, fleet and HR managers, small businesses, and private motorists.
Among the findings was that the average estimate for the typical cost incurred to travel 1,000 electric miles was around £50, when Fleet Evolution says its data shows the real cost is nearer £20.
In addition, 67% said they did not live within five minutes' walk of a public charge point, but subsequent enquiries revealed 40% of those who said this did in fact have a charge point in range.
The survey uncovered some hard-line resistance to EVs, as when asked about the UK Government's planned 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, over 26% of respondents said they would continue to buy used petrol or diesel cars for as long as possible.
When asked about factors that made people hesitant to switch, 36% said cost, while 28% named range anxiety and 25% a lack of public charging facilities.
Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech, said: "There are still a number of misconceptions around EVs, particularly the costs involved, and we found it quite staggering that over a quarter of people surveyed said they would never switch to an EV come what may.
"This is rather at odds with the government's decision to embrace an all-electric future as laid out in its Road to Zero strategy as it strives to achieve net zero by 2050.
"It was disappointing that cost was still seen as the major barrier to more widespread EV adoption given the wider availability of more affordable electric models.
"There also seemed to be a genuine lack of awareness that an EV acquired under a corporate salary sacrifice scheme is extremely cost and tax efficient given the current tax regime which is highly beneficial for electric cars.
"The lack of awareness over charging availability was something we have seen before but overlooks, not only the rapidly growing public charging network, but the benefits of having chargers installed at the workplace."
