Author: Robin Roberts
Buyers are becoming cool to claims that electric cars are any better than conventionally fuelled models.
Recent research by YouGov SixthSense, carried out amongst UK drivers, has found that nearly twice as many disagree with the statement ‘electric cars are the only real future alternative’, compared to those who agree with the statement. Seven in ten think electric cars offer only a limited alternative compared with just over a tenth that disagree.
Other fuel and power sources offer a better longer-term alternative
Just under half of car drivers, some 46%, agree that other types of fuel and power sources offer a better longer-term alternative for cars than electricity.
Half of all car drivers regard hydrogen as offering a better, longer-term alternative to electricity as a source of fuel for cars. A further 41% believe that more efficient petrol and diesel engines also offer a better longer-term alternative.
Of those respondents who own an alternative fuel car including fully electric, hybrid and other alternative fuels, 75% also own a standard fuel petrol or diesel vehicle with 35% owning two or more.
Of those who own an alternative fuel car: 63% own a hybrid (petrol/electric); 10% own a compressed gas-fuelled car; 8% own a fully electric car and the Toyota Prius is the most widely owned alternative fuel car with 33% of alternative fuel car owners having one.
The main reason for purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle among nearly two-thirds of owners is a belief that it would be more cost-effective than owning a standard fuel car.
An outright concern for the environment and therefore wanting to switch to an alternative fuel vehicle was the main reason for purchase for only 37% of owners.
Commenting on the findings, James McCoy, YouGov SixthSense Research Director said, “We’ve seen time and again, in similar markets such as green domestic utilities, that despite widespread concern over the environment, most consumers will only go green when it saves them money.”
In another report, the high price of electric cars is the biggest turn-off that deters motorists away from buying electric cars, according to new research.
A high price tag was the biggest disincentive for majority of over a third (37 per cent) motorists when it came to considering buying an electric car, a recent survey revealed.
In second place with 29 per cent was the limited range that electric cars offer compared to conventional, combustion cars. A lack of charging facilities (20%), concerns about the car’s battery lifespan (11%) and a lack of model choice (3%) also concerned motorists but to a much lesser extent.
Even with a government grant of up to £5,000 towards the cost of electric car or £8,000 towards the cost of an electric van, price remains the key issue for consumers. An electric car can cost as much as £10,000 more than an equivalent combustion model and this is sure to make buyers wary of stumping up the additional cost. Even though EVs can cost as little as a couple of pence per mile to recharge but increasingly the reason more EVs and hybrids are being sold is businesses see financial and social benefits and are building these into their company car advice.
Currently, electric vehicles are exempt from company car tax, making them potentially highly attractive to company car drivers. However, the Chancelor in the 2012 Budget confirmed the end of the company car tax exemption for zero rated CO2 emission vehicles in 2015. From April 2015, EVs will be taxed at the rate of 13% applicable to all company cars with CO2 emissions below 75g/km.
