More than one in three UK drivers are now ready to switch from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles. That’s according to a recent survey by Renault, which found 35% of motorists are likely to make the change.
The French automaker conducted the study ahead of opening its EV-only ‘rnlt’ store at Battersea Power Station shopping centre in West London.
Younger drivers are leading the charge.
Renault found that 85% of those aged 17 to 34 were most likely to abandon internal combustion engines for electric power. They pointed to the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant as their main motivation for switching.
The grant launched in July and automatically reduces EV prices by either £1,500 or £3,750 from list price.
Older drivers remain more hesitant about the transition. Just 27% of those over 55 said they’d make the switch to electric.
Charging Infrastructure Remains Key Concern
Those over 55 cited three main barriers: more charging facilities (47%), greater range (45%) and lower prices (34%).
The youngest drivers – aged 17 to 24 – had different priorities. They wanted fast charging (48%), longer range (39%), and more public charging points (36%).
Men showed stronger interest than women in going electric. The study found 63% of men described themselves as “very likely” to buy an electric car within two years, compared to 46% of women.
Regional differences also emerged across the UK. London topped the list with 80% of residents willing to switch to electric vehicles.
Northern Ireland came second at 62%, followed by the North West (59%), West Midlands (56%), and East Midlands (54%).
The South East and South West showed the most resistance – only 45% and 39% respectively said they’d be keen to switch.
Education Push Gains Momentum
Two-time British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato has joined efforts to improve EV education. Plato, who raced for Renault during the BTCC’s 1990s peak, believes better information is crucial.
“I believe that education is key to accelerating interest in electric car buying. While we have to respect people’s concerns, many of them are looking outdated as some of the latest cars to be launched offer incredible technology at great value, including long battery range and running costs that mean they can be much cheaper to own over their lifetime than a car with an [internal combustion] engine.”
Renault’s entire EV lineup now falls under the £37,000 Electric Car Grant threshold. The Renault 5 starts at £21,495, while the Renault 4 begins at £25,495.
The larger Megane and Scenic models start at £30,995 and £35,495 respectively.
