EVs ‘not macho’ for some men

Range anxiety — or the fear of running out of power on longer trips — has been one of the biggest turn-offs facing electric vehicle ownership.

Now a survey has thrown up another: some blokes won’t buy one because it might dent their macho image.

A poll of Kiwi EV owners found the powerful thrum of an internal combustion engine was apparently more manly than the calm quiet of an electric engine — something more likely to appeal to women.

Just over 60 per cent of respondents to the survey, run by a New Zealand citizen science project dubbed Flip the Fleet, agreed men and women were equally likely to switch to an EV — but those who disagreed offered illuminating reasons.

One EV owner reported promoting the climate-friendly mobiles each weekend at a farmer’s market, and typically found tech-savvy youngsters and mums who wanted a safe, practical and cash-saving car were on board with the idea.

But Dad, “rarely, if ever, gets it”, they added.

“No noise, no smell, no oil, no mess — how can this be good? The dad is 97.5 per cent likely to be the dinosaur.”

Respondents also believed women tended to be more conscious of the environment, and that made them more engaged in their EVs.

There was also wide disparity on perceptions of how men and women handle the technical side of EVs.

Most felt that generally men were more technically minded and therefore more comfortable with charging the EV and monitoring its battery condition and range.

This, the survey organisers suspected, may be reflected in women being more prone to range anxiety.

The findings were in line with recent research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, showing that although men were still slightly more likely than women to consider buying a battery EV, interest from women was rising faster.

Flip the Fleet spokesman Joe Camuso said advocacy messages around EVs needed to better include gender preferences, and cover everything that drove drivers to switch.

“Cars are no longer just men’s talk,” Camuso said.