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Are Drivers Ready to Go Electric?

By Paul Baxter, 15th November 2024

At the recent COP29 climate summit Keir Starmer announced the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 81% by 2035. It’s clear that increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) will need to play a role in getting Brits to cut their use of fossil fuels.

However despite EVs being hailed as the future of motoring, our latest research shows that many drivers are still not yet ready to make the switch. Over one in three petrol and diesel car owners (35%) say they plan to stick with these fossil fuels for their next car, and even among those considering a switch, concerns remain.

So, what’s holding people back? For starters, two-thirds (64%) of drivers believe the government needs to offer more incentives to encourage EV adoption. Without additional support, some motorists feel the jump to electric simply isn’t worth the cost or hassle.

Interestingly, even some current EV owners have their doubts. Around 32% of EV drivers admit to having had regrets about their purchase. Their main gripe is around charging. Some 70% of EV owners say finding convenient charging points is a major issue, especially on long journeys. Other concerns include higher insurance premiums (39%), the difficulty of overnight charging (35%), and the cost of servicing (30%).

Despite these hurdles, most EV drivers are still committed to the change. A significant 85% of EV owners say their next car will also be electric, showing that once people adapt to EV life, they tend to stick with it.

For many EV owners, charging at home is the easiest option, with 67% charging on driveways and 18% in their home garages. However, not everyone has this luxury. Around 12% rely on nearby street chargers, and only a small percentage charge at supermarkets or public stations. Improving access to charging points is clearly a priority if EV uptake is to increase.

We think it’s clear that more needs to be done to incentivise drivers and like others in the insurance sector have suggested that the removal of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) on EV policies could be a potential game-changer. Lowering costs and improving infrastructure would also make the switch more appealing, especially for the 34% of drivers who are currently indifferent about their next car’s fuel type.

In the meantime, we are trying to do our part to cut carbon emissions with eco-friendly car insurance policies that reward greener driving with discounts and offset customer emissions through sustainability projects.

The move to electric may not be smooth for everyone, but with the right support and incentives, we hope that the UK can realise Sir Keir Starmer’s ambitious target and progress toward a greener future.