The electric car has come so far
ELECTRIC VEHICLES have dramatically increased their appeal in the past two years, according to a national poll by Opinium Research, conducted on behalf of Pure Planet (purepla.net), the app-only renewable energy provider. It shows 45 per cent of British adults would now consider owning an electric vehicle — in contrast to the results of a 2016 Department for Transport survey — also conducted nationally — which found only 21 per cent of Brits were thinking about owning a zeroemissions car or van.
Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are up 25 per cent this year — with a new model registered every nine minutes in the UK.
Researchers found price was still the biggest factor keeping motorists from going electric but many people were also worried about how far they would be able to drive before recharging and might be persuaded to change if manufacturers could improve the distance between charges and if there were more charging stations. Those who are wavering for this reason should check out Hyundai’s new Kona Electric — an emission-free compact SUV which has a driving range of up to 300 miles. This means you could travel the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats for around £17, says the manufacturer. Driving the same distance in a mediumsized petrol-powered car would set you back in the region of £121.
The Kona Electric is the first mainstream family electric vehicle to have such a range — with the 300-mile threshold normally limited to electric cars costing twice as much.
The Kona Electric will do 0-62mph in as little as 7.6 seconds — comparable to a hot hatch — and has a top speed of 104mph, while producing zero emissions and being exempt from road tax.
A spokesperson for Hyundai says: “As you might expect from an electric car, it produces zero emissions — but you don’t have to trade eco credentials for performance as it’s also quick off the mark, with instant acceleration. Put it into sports mode and you’ll be surprised how much fun it is to drive — while being almost silent.
“There’s a £4,500 plug-in car grant currently available, which makes the starting price for this car just under £25,000 and a £500 grant which can be put towards the purchase and installation of a home charging point.”
The research also found motorists typically own a car for five years and eight months before buying a new one.
And when they do, they will check out just three vehicles before making their mind-up on which one to purchase.
Six in ten take someone with them when shopping for cars — and for one quarter of those who do, the chosen companion will be their dad.
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Opinium Research for Pure Planet