Electric cars the ‘best choice’ for one in five new car buyers

Its analysis of the daily mileage, driving habits and vehicle requirements for more than 8,400 users of the What Fuel? Calculator indicates that 19% of drivers could use a fully electric vehicle as their daily vehicle without compromising their routine.

The Fuel Calculator found that a whopping 64% of new car buyers should opt for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle as their next car, while diesel and petrol models came out on top for just 12.5% and 4.8% of new car buyers respectively.

 “There are more than 20 different fully electric vehicles available, with many giving their petrol and diesel counterparts a serious run for their money,” What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said. “Yet electric ownership is lagging behind its potential.”

Sales of fully electric vehicles currently account for only 2.2% of the UK’s new car market, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders. What Car?’s experts believe this is due mainly to a ‘knowledge gap’, which is causing motorists to overlook the latest generation of EVs. For example, many potential owners remain concerned about range, while others fail to take into account the savings to be had from running an electric vehicle.

What Car?’s research found that EVs are suitable for some drivers covering more than 15,000 miles a year and even those who live rurally, because the best EVs can now cover more than 200 miles on a single charge.

Steve Huntingford added: “Our previous research highlighted a ‘knowledge gap’ among new car buyers, with car manufacturers not providing enough information on the benefits of owning an EV. Since then, many manufacturers have updated the information on their websites, but more could still be done. The more people learn about the benefits of running and owning an electric car, the faster the technology can reach its full potential.”