- Research carried out by CUPRA UK suggests that UK drivers are convinced of the benefits of going electric, with 70% of a survey of 377 drivers stating that they will be driving a fully electric car within the next ten years.
- The paper more widely covered the public’s perception of electric vehicles, from both EV owner and non-EV owner viewpoints.
- 94% of those surveyed who owned a CUPRA EV in particular also expressed satisfaction with the decision to switch to an electric car.
Is the UK ready to go electric?
The full report, which can be read here, also focused on the perceived barriers to ownership from prospective EV buyers. The most popular concern amongst non-EV owners was charging infrastructure, followed by purchase price – even though EVs are getting ever closer to price parity with equivalent ICE models. Despite these perceived barriers, current EV owners do not find these perceived issues to be a problem. Reportedly, just 5% of CUPRA EV drivers found charging to have a negative effect on their daily routine, while 37% of non-EV owners believed it would have an effect.
Despite these concerns, the majority of non-EV owners surveyed (70%) believed that they would be driving an electric vehicle in the next ten years – just ahead of the UK government’s 2035 mandate on the sale of new electric passenger cars. To maintain and even boost this number, ensuring the mandate can stay on track, continuing work to fight the FUD is needed.
Marcus Gossen, Director of SEAT and CUPRA UK, commented on the white paper:
“Our white paper sheds new light on the factors affecting drivers’ perceptions of electrification. It is clear that those who make the switch are happy they did, but that does not mean our work is done. The industry must continue to support and inform both current EV drivers and those yet to make the leap… We want to empower drivers and reassure them that sustainable mobility doesn’t mean they have to compromise. With that in mind, our report provides a fresh understanding of the differing viewpoints, offering inclusive and informed discussion on the future of mobility.”
