Public charging infrastructure concerns are the main barrier to EV adoption, according to What Car? research which surveyed 2,000 people.
What Car?’s nine-point EV manifesto aims to encourage the Government to make effective changes to aid the transition to electric.
More than a third (37%) of private car buyers cited worry about infrastructure as the main reason they aren’t considering choosing pure electric.
The high cost of new EVs was the biggest hurdle for 34% of car buyers, while range was the main concern for 25%.
Only one in seven of those replacing their car in the next year say they will never buy electric.
However, the rest could be convinced by government incentives. The most popular incentive (chosen by 18% of respondents) is to make public EV charging cheaper by reducing the VAT on it from 20% to 5%.
The reintroduction of a Government grant for EV buyers is favoured by 16%, and 15% believe EVs should remain exempt from the £410 annual ‘expensive car’ VED levy rather than having to pay it from April.
An overall reduction in electricity prices, enabled by a cut in tax, would incentivise 12%.
In addition, four no-cost measures would encourage 48% to make the switch. Tightening up new public charging legislation would encourage 27%.
Stating which hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars will be exempt from the 2030 ban would encourage 14% while 8% would be consider an EV if pre-authorisation bank card charges levied by public charging networks were limited.
