The Electric Car Scheme has identified the top myths and misconceptions surrounding EVs in the UK. Affordability is the leading concern for nearly 70% of those considering an EV. Concerns about battery health, cost, and range anxiety remain, though demand is rising as prices fall.
The Electric Car Scheme is unveiling the primary concerns and misconceptions that are preventing Brits from switching to electric vehicles.
In its latest research report, Affording Sustainability, the EV salary sacrifice provider surveyed 2,000 Brits to understand the barriers to EV adoption.
The survey results show that the most significant barrier for Brits contemplating an EV is the initial purchase cost, with 68% of respondents identifying this as a major deterrent. Although this issue is well-known, it is gradually being mitigated as more entry-level models become available, lowering the cost of new EVs.
The increasing availability of used EVs, where prices are considerably lower, is also driving demand. Since adding used cars to its offerings, The Electric Car Scheme has observed that these vehicles now represent half of its sales.
Range anxiety is still a concern for about 40% of Brits, according to the survey, but with a record 6,000 new public chargers installed in the first quarter of 2024 alone, this issue is gradually improving. Battery technology is advancing rapidly, with recent announcements from companies like the Chinese EV firm Zeekr suggesting that batteries could soon be charged from 10% to 80% in just 10 and a half minutes using ultra-rapid charging stations. Furthermore, data from The AA shows that only 1.4% of breakdowns were due to running out of charge, a figure just slightly higher than for petrol or diesel vehicles.
Although the cost of operating an EV is generally considered a major advantage, it remains a concern for 34% of Brits. Nonetheless, running an EV is significantly cheaper than driving a comparable petrol car. The latest analysis by The Electric Car Scheme shows that as of 15th July, petrol car owners had already spent as much on fuel as the average EV driver will spend on charging for the entire year.
Battery reliability is a concern for 31% of prospective EV drivers, but this is one of the easiest issues to manage. Data from battery health experts ClearWatt indicates that with careful charging habits, batteries can lose as little as 5% of their performance after seven years of use and more than 85,000 miles driven. However, they also found that one particular EV, which was frequently rapid charged to 100%, experienced a 30% reduction in performance within just three and a half years.
Patrick Cresswell, co-founder of ClearWatt, noted: “Electric vehicle battery degradation varies significantly depending on usage patterns and thermal management. It’s well-known that the original Nissan Leaf experienced high rates of degradation (due to a lack of effective battery cooling) and the picture has certainly improved in the second and third gen EVs that have come to market in the preceding years. While most modern EVs maintain battery health well however, outliers certainly do exist and this is usually linked to how the vehicle has been treated.”
The Electric Car Scheme CEO and Co-Founder Thom Groot commented: “We have reached the stage in EV technology and infrastructure where the old concerns are becoming less and less important and, in fact, many of them have become myths or at least misconceptions. The availability of rapid chargers has made the long drive just as feasible as in any other car, and with proper care, batteries are now incredibly reliable.
“The main concern is, instead, affordability, which was the biggest barrier for 68% of Brits, way out in front of any concerns around range, reliability or resale value. This is why we started The Electric Car Scheme, to make EVs more affordable and help increase uptake ahead of the coming phase-out of traditional cars. It is also the reason that our used EV proposition has been so popular, with it now making up half of our sales, as when EVs become cheaper up-front than petrol equivalents it really is a no-brainer to make the switch.”
