Electric vehicle sales surge could be short-term
Auto Trader has reported the surge in electric vehicle sales could stall if barriers to adoption are not removed.
Electric vehicles have been the most popular fuel type on the platform for three consecutive months as drivers seek alternatives to high fuel prices. They accounted for 27% of all new car enquiries in May, up from 18% in the same month last year.
However, Auto Trader’s latest Road to 2030 Report suggests the uptick may be temporary with 84% of 2,000 drivers surveyed saying electric cars are too expensive to buy, 69% finding charging inconvenient, and 65% believing there are not enough places to charge near their homes.
Autotrader is now calling on the government to ensure every driver can access lower at-home charging costs while delaying its proposed electric Vehicle Excise Duty.
Underlying barriers
Ian Plummer, chief customer officer, said: “Electric mass adoption is an exciting opportunity to change how we drive but we must be aware of the realities, there’s a chance the sales boost we’re seeing now will dry up future interest so we must work to address underlying barriers to adoption – we can’t rely on a war to stimulate demand.
“We’ve seen previous spikes in electric interest driven by petrol price hikes simply don’t last and there’s no guarantee this boost is here to stay. When only 10% of recent car buyers considered an electric car, we’ve got problems.”
He added:
“The new research also highlights that thousands of people on lower household incomes are still being left behind. With less than five years to go until the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, the government should do more to ensure an accessible and equitable transition.”
