- UK motoring association The AA has launched a new UK EV Readiness Index, which will be published quarterly and give a rating of how ready the general public is to switch to electric vehicles.
- The index hopes to underline both the drivers and barriers to EV ownership.
- With the UK’s ZEV mandate set to outlaw the sale of new pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030, The AA’s new index comes at a crucial time for the industry.
The AA begins EV Readiness Rating: How ready is the UK for the EV switch?
In its position as a breakdown recovery company, The AA’s new quarterly report is set to bring fresh insights to the EV sector, further aiding the electric transition. The readiness index takes into account eight factors to create a rating. This includes the cost of new and used EVs, the cost of EV insurance, the cost of home charging, the cost of public charging, access to charging, roadside EV repair rates, and the rates of EVs running out of charge.
Some positive figures to be picked out of the report include a dramatic decrease in the number of breakdown callouts which were attributed to running out of charge – down from 8.3% in 2015, to around 1.3% now. This clearly shows that range anxiety is fast becoming a thing of the past, and with some of the longest range electric cars able to crack over 400 miles on a single charge, it’s no surprise.
In this first published index report, which can be downloaded here, a ‘UK EV Readiness Rating’ of 47.5/100 was given. This score shows how far the EV industry has come in recent years, but there are still barriers – both real and perceived – for more to make the switch. This also highlights the importance of marketing campaigns such as World EV Day™, which help propel EVs to a mainstream audience and clarify the benefits of electric vehicles over their fossil fuelled counterparts, but also the continuation of incentive schemes such as the new Electric Car Grant.
Edmund King OBE, AA President, spoke on the latest report:
“Drivers tell us they’re excited about going electric and they love the tech, but they’re also confused and cautious. Our Index shows that upfront costs and charging access are still major concerns. Our polling also suggests battery health and resale values are still issues for some.
Our index is an independent barometer of the issues that are either holding drivers back or propelling drivers to go electric. It is neither pro nor anti EV.
Cost of new EVs is still a major stumbling block so the Government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme of up to £3,750 for cars under £37,000 is a welcome boost, but we need to go further to make EVs a realistic choice for all drivers.
Many drivers are unsure how far and how fast they should move to an EV with some waiting for future technological developments to enhance better range and in car systems. We are confident that the readiness rating will increase with more chargers, less expensive products, targeted incentives and better information.”
