The Electric Car Scheme uncovers the top misconceptions about EVs in the UK. Affordability is the primary concern for almost 70% of potential EV buyers. Concerns about battery health, costs, and range anxiety persist, though interest is growing as prices drop.
The Electric Car Scheme has revealed the major concerns and misconceptions that are preventing Brits from transitioning to electric vehicles.
In its latest research report, Affording Sustainability, the EV salary sacrifice provider surveyed 2,000 Brits to identify what is hindering the adoption of EVs.
The survey found that the biggest obstacle for Brits considering an EV is the upfront cost, with 68% of respondents highlighting this as a key deterrent. While this is a well-known issue, it is steadily improving as more affordable entry-level models are introduced, driving down the cost of new EVs.
The market for used EVs, where prices are much lower, is also driving demand. Since including used cars in its offerings, The Electric Car Scheme has found that they now make up half of its sales.
Range anxiety continues to be a concern for about 40% of Brits, according to the data, but with a record 6,000 new public chargers installed in the first three months of 2024, this issue is beginning to be alleviated. Battery technology is advancing rapidly, with several recent announcements, including one from the Chinese EV company Zeekr, suggesting that batteries could soon be charged from 10% to 80% in as little as 10 and a half minutes using ultra-rapid charging stations. Additionally, data from The AA shows that only 1.4% of breakdowns were due to running out of charge, a figure only slightly higher than that for petrol or diesel vehicles.
While the cost of running EVs is generally a key advantage, it remains a concern for 34% of Brits. On the whole, however, operating an EV is significantly cheaper than an equivalent petrol car. The latest analysis by The Electric Car Scheme shows that as of 15th July, petrol car owners had already spent as much on fuel as the average EV driver will spend on charging for the entire year.
Battery reliability is a worry for 31% of potential EV drivers, but this is one of the most manageable concerns. Data from battery health experts ClearWatt shows that with proper charging habits, batteries can lose as little as 5% of their capacity after seven years of use and over 85,000 miles driven. However, they also found that one particular EV, which was frequently rapid charged to 100%, saw a 30% decline in performance within just three and a half years.
Patrick Cresswell, co-founder of ClearWatt, commented: “Electric vehicle battery degradation varies significantly depending on usage patterns and thermal management. It’s well-known that the original Nissan Leaf experienced high rates of degradation (due to a lack of effective battery cooling) and the picture has certainly improved in the second and third gen EVs that have come to market in the preceding years. While most modern EVs maintain battery health well however, outliers certainly do exist and this is usually linked to how the vehicle has been treated.”
The Electric Car Scheme CEO and Co-Founder Thom Groot remarked: “We have reached the stage in EV technology and infrastructure where the old concerns are becoming less and less important and, in fact, many of them have become myths or at least misconceptions. The availability of rapid chargers has made the long drive just as feasible as in any other car, and with proper care, batteries are now incredibly reliable.
“The main concern is, instead, affordability, which was the biggest barrier for 68% of Brits, way out in front of any concerns around range, reliability or resale value. This is why we started The Electric Car Scheme, to make EVs more affordable and help increase uptake ahead of the coming phase-out of traditional cars. It is also the reason that our used EV proposition has been so popular, with it now making up half of our sales, as when EVs become cheaper up-front than petrol equivalents it really is a no-brainer to make the switch.”
