Electric car ownership is 'inevitable' as drivers look to ditch petrol and diesel vehicles within years

Electric car ownership is 'inevitable' as drivers look to ditch petrol and diesel vehicles within years

WATCH: James May gives his honest opinion on electric cars

YOUTUBE: THEINTERCOOLER
Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 22/05/2024

- 13:10

'It is clear that those who make the switch are happy they did, but that does not mean our work is done'

The majority of Britons believe electric car ownership is "inevitable" in the coming years as manufacturers move towards net zero goals.

According to new data, seven in 10 people say they will be driving a fully electric vehicle within the next 10 years ahead of the 2035 ban on polluting car sales.



The Prime Minister announced last month that the UK would see the sale of new petrol and diesel cars banned from 2035, a delay of five years compared to the initial date of 2030.

New data from Cupra revealed that drivers around the UK now believe that electric car ownership is "inevitable" as they become more affordable and charging solutions are rolled out.

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Electric car charging

Most people assume they will have an electric car in the coming years

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The data also found that the overwhelming majority of drivers who have switched to an electric car are happy with their decision and would not go back to a petrol or diesel car.

A total of 94 per cent of Cupra EV owners said they were satisfied with their decision to switch to an electric car and could not see themselves returning to an ICE vehicle.

Marcus Gossen, Director of Seat and Cupra UK, said: "Our white paper sheds new light on the factors affecting drivers’ perceptions of electrification.

"It is clear that those who make the switch are happy they did, but that does not mean our work is done.

"The industry must continue to support and inform both current EV drivers and those yet to make the leap."

However, five per cent of electric vehicle owners are still sceptical about the future of charging, especially with public infrastructure.

According to Zapmap data, there are 61,232 charging devices around the UK, across almost 32,700 different locations, as of the end of April 2024.

While this number does continue to grow, there are fears that the UK will miss goals set out by the Government in recent years to install 300,000 chargers by the end of the decade.

The number of people fearful about relying on the public charging infrastructure grows to 37 per cent when taking into account people who do not own an electric vehicle.

Gossen continued, saying: "We want to empower drivers and reassure them that sustainable mobility doesn't mean they have to compromise.

"With that in mind, our report provides a fresh understanding of the differing viewpoints, offering inclusive and informed discussion on the future of mobility."

In 2023, Cupra delivered more than 230,000 vehicles, with the brand looking to accelerate its electric vehicle growth to boost its chances of achieving net zero emissions, which it aims to hit by 2050.

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Electric car charging

Only five per cent of EV owners are worried about charging

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As part of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which launched in January, car manufacturers will need to have a minimum proportion of sales be electric from the end of this year.

Over the coming months, they will need to hit 22 per cent sales, followed by a target of 80 per cent for 2030 and 100 per cent for 2035 - or car brands could risk serious fines.

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