EV facts can shift public perception

Char.gy and YouGov look at tackling misinformatiom

Myths and misinformation remain significant barriers, with 71% of UK drivers surveyed who are not yet driving electric citing “range anxiety” as their number one concern, despite significant improvements in EV range. 

Purchase price also remains a top concern, despite the average used EV price dropping by over 20% since 2023 and expected to fall another 28% by 2030. 

The research highlights a blind spot in the debate: the second-hand EV market. More than half (53-57%) of EV considerers surveyed now say they plan to buy second-hand, despite most public conversations focusing solely on new car sales. 

According to the report, perceptions of charging availability and awareness of charging options also continue to deter potential buyers. Although 63% of UK drivers surveyed say they are open to owning an EV within five years, only 5% currently do, with 72% of rejecters saying they do not know where they would charge. 

Some 88% of current EV drivers surveyed also reported dissatisfaction with public charging – citing cost, availability, and reliability. 

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of non-EV drivers surveyed said that cheaper charging would persuade them to switch, rising to 78% of short-term and 76% of long-term considerers. 

While a majority of the EV adopters respondents charge at home (90%), 40% of the UK population has no access to a driveway. 

Unlike rapid charging stations or driveway models, on-street charging meets drivers where they live at affordable costs, especially the 24% “short-term EV considerers” who are ready to switch in the next 12 months, who tend to be younger and live in urban areas.

The report calls for a series of urgent interventions to address painpoints, including targeted myth-busting campaigns, the expansion of kerbside charging infrastructure in underserved urban areas, and renewed financial incentives for both home chargers and EV purchases, especially in the second-hand market. 

John Lewis, chief executive of Char.gy, said: “EVs aren’t a distant future anymore: they’re here, they’re affordable, and they’re rapidly outpacing combustion cars on performance and value. But the data shows the biggest  barrier isn’t the vehicles, it’s the stories we tell about them. If we can debunk the myths and meet people  where they are, especially at the kerbside, we’ll accelerate this transition faster and fairer.” 

Ginny Buckley, broadcaster and chief executive of Electrifying.com, said: “An Electrifying.com survey of more than 11,000 UK drivers at the end of 2024 found that just over half said not having access to off-street parking would put them off switching to an EV. This is why it’s crucial we get on-street charging right — to ensure nobody is left behind on Britain’s electric journey.”