Millions of British drivers are in favour of the delay to the 2030 vehicle ban as it will allow for better provisions for road users with increased investment.
Almost one in three motorists across the UK say the decision to move the deadline to ban petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2035 was a good idea.
A total of 27 per cent of drivers believe the delay will allow time for prices to fall, in addition to there being more charging points around the country.
A number of barriers still exist which are holding people back from making the switch, with 20 per cent saying the delay will give them more time to improve their finances and afford one.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
New petrol and diesel vehicles will be phased out from 2035
GETTY
One in four drivers also stated that the extra five years would allow for more EVs to enter the used car market, further forcing prices down.
In September last year, the Prime Minister unveiled plans stating that the Government would be rowing back a number of its net zero goals over the coming years.
The first major announcement from Rishi Sunak was to move the deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from the end of the decade to 2035.
He praised the progress of electric vehicle sales in the UK and how it was becoming easier for drivers to use an EV in a way that caters to their needs.
However, the PM highlighted that upfront costs remain high, charging infrastructure remains a concern for some and small businesses were worried “about the practicalities”.
Lisa Watson, Director of Sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “The delayed ban of the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles provides some much-needed breathing room for the everyday motorist.
“In recent years they’ve had to contend with a number of pressures, including unpredictable fuel prices, the spiralling cost of car insurance and the government turning the screw on urban driving with schemes such as Ulez.
“Our research shows that to make the eventual switch to electric vehicles as smooth as possible, motorists feel that time is needed for improvements in infrastructure and technology to take place.”
She called on the Government to make use of the additional five years to ensure drivers have the proper conditions needed to switch.
The expert added that this is crucial and must be done with relevant levels of investment from the Government and private industry, with chargers and cheaper vehicles on the market.
Watson continued, saying that motor dealers need to have the right levels of appropriate cars that drivers want to purchase, including electric vehicles.
She said: “In a new landscape of car ownership, continuing to utilise insights and tools to monitor trends will be important to ensuring their forecourts are best suited to consumer demand.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Experts predict there will be thousands more chargers installed by the 2035 deadline
GETTYNew data from Zapmap shows that there are almost 60,000 charging stations around the UK, representing a 47 per cent increase in the number of chargers since March 2023.
Last month alone, 2,300 new EV charging devices were added to the database, despite 37 fast chargers being taken offline.
