Currently in the UK demand for EVs remains low with infrastructure still a big concern for many
According to new figures, one in four motorists in the UK are planning on buying an electric vehicle sometime during the next 10 years.
However, 23% would like to run an environmentally friendly car much sooner and plan to buy one within the next five years.
Despite these promising figures, current demand for EVs remains low in the UK. Only 3% of the 2,000 drivers questioned by Sainsbury’s Bank said they planned to purchase one during the next six months.
More than 40% of Brits are considering buying an electric vehicle over the next 10 years © Copyright Gary Rogers and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
More than half of those taking part in the survey who were planning on buying a car during the next six months said they would choose a petrol vehicle, whilst 22% would go for a diesel.
Just 14% of those considering buying a new car within the next few months would consider a hybrid model and only 11% said they are “seriously considering” purchasing an EV to help the environment.
Of those questioned, 16% said they might buy an electric vehicle at some point in the future but only if all motorway service stations and petrol stations across the country provided electric charging points.
The UK Government announced back in July that from 2040, there would be a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars but despite this, sales of EVs still remain disappointingly low.
However, 13,800 electric vehicles were registered in the UK during the first three months of 2017, a 17% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
Having the right infrastructure in place to cope with the anticipated increase in demand for EVs is proving a tough ask and is putting a lot of motorists off switching to a more environmentally friendly motor.
Billions of pounds will have to be spent on ensuring there’s enough charging points for motorists to use, as well as having to create new power plants and grid networks.
In August, ChargePoint Services and Motor Fuel Group confirmed they’d signed a partnership deal which will see electric vehicle charging points popping up on forecourts throughout the UK, whilst Transport for London announced that they are going to spend £4.5million on improving the infrastructure for charging in the Capital.
ZapMap have said that there’s now 17,134 public charging points available up and down the country.
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