More than half of UK drivers would consider going electric

Study finds people aged 18 to 24 are most likely to switch to battery power

An online YouGov study of 1,731 UK drivers commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman has revealed that six in ten (61 per cent) respondents would consider getting behind the wheel of an electric car if they were to purchase a new or used vehicle in 2022.

The poll, conducted by the Ombudsman for the automotive sector, showed that 18 to 24-year-olds would be the most likely to turn to battery power for their next car, with 79 per cent saying they would opt for this type of propulsion.

When individuals considering an electric car were asked about the key factors that would influence their decision to buy this type of vehicle next year, 59 per cent said that the UK’s growing charging network would be an important reason.

The greater choice of electric models now available (42 per cent) was seen as the next biggest factor, with 39 per cent citing the fact that a decision to go electric was due to the cost of unleaded and diesel increasing significantly – prices which have reached their highest level in eight years.

Petrol station closures and the unavailability of fuel at the pumps was the fourth most stated factor to go electric (22 per cent), whilst avoiding incurring future charges as a result of the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) later this month, was specified by 15 per cent of those looking to go electric.

When quizzed about their other principal motivations for going electric in 2022, around two thirds (68 per cent) of drivers who would consider a purely batterydriven car next year, said that this type of vehicle was better for the environment, whilst 39 per cent explained that electric cars could be charged on their driveway at their own convenience.

Similarly, nearly one in three (29 per cent) stated that an electric car would suit their lifestyle in terms of their low monthly mileage and driving mainly in urban areas, whilst nearly a quarter (24 per cent) felt that deciding to go electric would set a good example to others.

Furthermore, around a fifth (19 per cent) acknowledged that owning an electric car would require the maintenance of fewer moving parts and the topping up of less fluids when compared to running a vehicle with an engine.

Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of the Motor Ombudsman, said: “As our study has shown, electric vehicles are fast becoming a leading choice for motorists when buying a car, thanks in part to the growing charging network and the greater choice of models now on the market.

“However, current events, such as the rising cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps, the unavailability of fuel, as well as the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in the London area, are clearly front of mind for consumers, and are playing their part in the decision regarding what type of car to get next.”