Almost one in four buyers expect to make the switch to electric in the next purchasing cycle, according to the latest Cazoo & Motors Consumer Insight Panel which polled the views of over 2,000 buyers.
The percentage of respondents expecting their next car to be an EV rose to 24%, up from 21% as recently as January.
Lucy Tugby, marketing director of Cazoo & Motors, said: “We are now seeing the highest ever levels of EV consideration among car buyers.
“Over previous Consumer Insight Panels around 20% of buyers typically expected to make the transition but this has jumped to nearly a quarter, suggesting a tipping point is being reached.
“Our research also identifies that hybrid is not the stepping stone technology it was widely considered to be, with most EV owners having transitioned directly from petrol and diesel.”
Hybrids are also a popular option, with 31% saying they expect to purchase one while 45% of buyers are considering an ICE car, down from 47% in January.
The survey found 62% of current EV owners had by-passed hybrids, transitioning directly from ICE. Only a quarter had owned a hybrid before, while 13% bought an EV as their first car.
EV buyers are more comfortable purchasing new rather than used – 53% would buy new while a quarter would consider used, and 21% nearly new.
Used consideration was stronger for hybrid buyers (46%), followed by new (31%) and nearly new (23%). For these buyers, self-charging hybrids are more popular considerations (56%) than plug-in hybrids (44%).
Tugby added: “Selling used EVs is challenging and highlights the role dealers can play in promoting the affordability of the growing number of makes and models now entering the used car market.
“For many customers buying new, even with carmaker incentives, is still not an affordable option.”
