Over half of drivers ready to embrace electric vehicles, research shows

New research reveals that over 52% of UK drivers are likely to choose an Electric Vehicle (EV) as their next car, a figure that rises to 75% among those aged 18 to 24.

This study, timed to coincide with World EV Day on 9 September, was commissioned by CA Auto Finance, and explores EV adoption in the UK and the barriers still hindering full-scale transition to zero-emission vehicles.

While there is growing enthusiasm for electric vehicles, the research highlights several obstacles. Key concerns among current and prospective EV drivers include battery life, cited by 55% of respondents, accessibility of charging stations (38%), and range anxiety (37%).

The UK government’s Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) mandate sets ambitious goals, including that 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans must be zero-emission by 2024. However, experts warn that these targets could be missed.

Despite this, the study found that 79% of UK drivers believe incentivisation could encourage them to make the switch to an EV, suggesting that further government support may be necessary to push adoption forward.