The Electric Car Scheme identifies the most common misconceptions about EVs in the UK. Affordability is the top concern for nearly 70% of those considering an EV. Concerns about battery health, cost, and range anxiety persist, but interest is increasing as prices decline.
The Electric Car Scheme has highlighted the primary concerns and misconceptions that are preventing Brits from switching to electric vehicles.
In its latest research report, Affording Sustainability, the EV salary sacrifice provider surveyed 2,000 Brits to understand what is hindering the adoption of EVs.
The survey revealed that the largest obstacle for Brits contemplating an EV is the initial cost, with 68% of respondents citing this as a major deterrent. While this is a well-known issue, it is gradually being addressed as more affordable entry-level models are introduced, lowering the cost of new EVs.
The used EV market, where prices are significantly lower, is also driving demand. Since adding used cars to its offerings, The Electric Car Scheme has observed that these vehicles now account for half of its sales.
Range anxiety remains a concern for around 40% of Brits, according to the data, but with a record 6,000 new public chargers installed in the first quarter of 2024, this issue is gradually being alleviated. Advances in battery technology are also helping, with recent announcements from companies like Chinese EV manufacturer Zeekr indicating that batteries could soon charge from 10% to 80% in just 10 and a half minutes using ultra-rapid charging stations. Moreover, data from The AA shows that only 1.4% of breakdowns were due to running out of charge, a figure slightly higher than that for petrol or diesel vehicles.
While the cost of running EVs is generally a significant advantage, it remains a concern for 34% of Brits. Nonetheless, operating an EV is considerably cheaper than driving 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 easiest concerns to manage. Data from battery health experts ClearWatt shows that with proper charging habits, batteries can lose as little as 5% of their performance after seven years of use and over 85,000 miles driven. However, they also found that one specific 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, remarked: “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 stated: “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.”
