An overwhelming majority of electric car owners believe their decision to drive an EV is saving them money.
Fully 94 percent of those questioned by the not-for-profit Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA) said they had experienced lower costs with an EV compared to running a petrol or diesel car.
In addition, 93 percent said they planned to choose another EV for their next vehicle. And the same percentage would recommend an electric car to their friends and family.
However, more than a third (38 percent) noted that recent government announcements and policy changes have reduced their confidence in EV ownership.
Just five percent said their confidence had improved, with discussions around UK sales targets for EVs and pay-per-mile road charging both causing concern.
EV converts remain loyal
The EVA England survey also exposed the disparity between drivers with access to private off-street charging and those beholden to public networks.
Of those who responded, 88 percent said they charged their car using their own electricity supply. As a result, they could take advantage of cheaper tariffs, including paying domestic-rate VAT on electricity.Â
For those making use of public EV chargers, only 48 percent believed they had seen improvements in the network during the last year: a fall from 69 percent when the same question was asked 12 months ago.
Paying upfront to go electric
Accessing the savings from owning an electric car still presents issues for many owners, according to EVA England’s research.
Some 42 percent said the cost of charging had increased in the past year. And 44 percent who experienced a problem with a public charger had been unable to report it.
Overall ownership costs remain a challenge, with 52 percent of EV drivers saying they paid more upfront, compared to buying a petrol- or diesel-powered car.
Equally, 41 percent of respondents with a car fuelled by petrol or diesel cited high purchase costs as a key barrier to buying an EV.
This is despite the introduction of the government’s Electric Car Grant scheme, which offers discounts of up to £3,750 on eligible models.
Opportunities being missed for EV ownership
Dr Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said: “Electric cars work. The people driving them are saving money, they love their cars, and most wouldn’t dream of going back. But there’s a huge catch: right now, the biggest savings are still overwhelmingly going to people who have a driveway and can charge cheaply at home.
“Imagine being told you could save hundreds of pounds a year by switching to electric, only to discover that because you live in a flat or don’t have a driveway, charging your car could cost you more than petrol. Or that you simply can’t afford the car in the first place. That’s not fair, and it’s a huge missed opportunity.”
EVA England is now calling on the government to take more action to boost the affordability of electric cars. This includes the ideas of lower-cost leasing schemes for households on modest incomes, plus reducing the cost of public charging.
Dr Edmonds added: “The demand is there. We need to stop arguing about targets and start making it easier for people to choose electric.
“That means bringing down the cost of cars and charging, making the public network work properly, and giving drivers confidence that going electric is the right decision for them and their families.”
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