Hurdles Electric Vehicles Overcome to Become Britain’s 1st Choice

There are many who are still hesitant or reluctant to make the change despite the environmental benefits and low running costs, which comes down to a number of hurdles that electric vehicles are having to overcome to become more appealing to motorists.

Survey Results 

Energy provider OVO asked 2,000 Brits what was currently stopping them from making the change, which highlighted the major issues that have stopped electric cars in the past. Overall, it came down to the lack of charging points, concerns about battery life and misconceptions about cost.

Charging Points

56% of people said that it was because of a lack of charging points. It is true that previously charging points have been few and far between, but there are currently around 14,000 points up and down the country (much higher than the 2,812 that Brits thought there were on average). This number is soaring each month and it is believed that electric charging points will outnumber petrol stations by 2020.

Battery Life

Concerns over how long the battery would last is another factor that has had to be addressed. Today’s electric vehicles are capable of lasting between 90 and 335 miles, which certainly is not an issue and particularly when you factor in that there are more charging points than people originally thought. The battery life has improved rapidly over time, which is probably why many had concerns over range and are unaware of just how far they can now reach.

Cost

The cost of an electric car is another hurdle that the industry has had to overcome. They can be very expensive to buy, but you can find one for around £14,000 and benefit from a grant of up to £4,000 from the Government when you buy one. The low running costs also help motorists to quickly recoup their money.

Variety

The cost is still an obstacle, but it is likely that they will become more affordable in the near future with an increasing amount available in different sizes and from different manufacturers. We will also begin to see these cars available in the used car market, which will make them much more affordable. This lack of range and availability has been another hurdle, but with every manufacturer now focusing on electric vehicles, it is easy to see more people making the switch in the near future.