A Third Of British Drivers Are ‘Optimistic’ About Going Electric
More than a third of British drivers are optimistic about owning an electric car by 2025. But nearly a one in four are sceptical that they’ll ever make the transition…
Optimistic About Electric Cars
A new survey has revealed that a third of British drivers are ‘optimistic’ about getting an electric car by 2025. However, just shy of a quarter are insistent that they can’t see themselves ever making the transition. Conducted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the survey also revealed that 44% of drivers believe 2035 is too soon to ban the sale of new hybrid, diesel and petrol models.
The results, according to the SMMT, reveal that huge strides have been made towards the electrification of the automotive industry. However, it’s stressed that there’s a lot of work left to be done; especially in terms of making EVs affordable and expanding the charging network. Whilst there are around 19,000 public chargers in the UK, the organisation believes that 1.7 million will be needed by 2030. This will need to increase to 2.8 million by 2035. For perspective, that’s £16.7 billion’s worth of infrastructure. It’d also be the equivalent of 507 charging points being installed on a daily basis.
Auto Industry Can’t Do It Alone
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said automakers were leading the way on electrification. However, he’s stressed that it can’t do it alone. He said, “until these vehicles are as affordable to buy and as easy to own and operate as conventional cars, we risk the UK being in the slow lane, undermining industry investment and holding back progress”. He wants the government to commit to the plug-in car grant for at least six years; as well as an extension so that it, once again, applies to hybrids. It also wants the purchase of pure-electrics to be tax-free.
The organisation claims that, through these measures, the average family-sized EV would be £5,500 cheaper; leading to as many as 2.4 million overall EV sales by 2025. That’d mean the market share of electric cars (including hybrids) would rise from 8% to 30%. Hawes concluded, “to give consumers confidence to take the leap into these technologies, we need government and other sectors to step up and match manufacturers’ commitment by investing in the incentives and infrastructure needed to power our electric future”.
Either way, the transition to electric cars is vital in confronting the climate crisis. It’s also a necessary step in reducing air pollution in the UK – which causes tens of thousands of premature deaths every year. Finally, it makes financial sense for motorists as they save on maintenance and fuel costs. With more education on these points, it’s likely that the sceptical ‘one in four’ would soon change their minds.
Drivers Are Unaware That Their Driving Style Can Harm The Environment – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/drivers-are-unaware-that-their-driving-style-can-harm-the-environment/
Green Number Plates Will Launch Later This Year For EVs – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/green-number-plates-will-launch-later-this-year-for-evs/
