The UK is ready to embrace the electric car revolution finds a new report commissioned by carmaker smart.
According to the study conducted by Future Foundation, around two-thirds of consumers are willing to consider an electric vehicle if the charging infrastructure is improved. Meanwhile over three-quarters of the UK agree that petrol/diesel emissions need to be lowered to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions in the UK and 74 per cent of respondents are prepared to do their bit.
The results form part of the smart Plugged-In report, an independent study commissioned to coincide with the start of the smart fortwo electric drive consumer trials in the UK.
The smart Plugged-In report also reveals that the majority of people believe local councils and communities have a responsibility to help make this a reality. 87 per cent of the UK believe that local councils should invest more in the infrastructure to support electric vehicles (e.g. more recharging points away-from-home) and 84 per cent think it’s the responsibility of their communities to make sure residents can live ‘greener’ lives with easier local recycling facilities, electric vehicle charging points and cycle lanes.
The study was undertaken to better understand the UK perceptions around electric vehicles. Its release marks the start of the first London consumers taking delivery of their smart fortwo electric drives, as part of the UK’s biggest electric drive trial. Funded by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board, the nationwide trial is the first of its kind with over 340 vehicles being trialled on the UK roads. The programme sees 60 smart electric drives exclusively tested by residents in London and the South East for 12 months. A further 40 will be trialled by residents in the West Midlands.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “We are now on the brink of an exciting era of cleaner, greener electric motoring. London is already taking steps to ensure drivers in the capital will be able to embrace this new technology and plug in with confidence.”
Whilst revealing an enthusiasm and understanding for the ‘green’ benefits (69 per cent of the UK believe owning an electric car would reduce their carbon footprint) and potential saving advantages of electric vehicles (the benefits highlighted by consumers were: money saving 61 per cent, energy efficiency 54 per cent, lower taxes 52 per cent, lower insurance 46 per cent), the report shows that there is still a need for more information: 73 per cent of people would like to know more about electric cars. This thirst for information is reflected in the lack of knowledge and confusion around the perceived pit-falls including the maximum range of electric vehicles. Findings show that 75 per cent of consumers worry that they will run out of charge quickly and that they might not be able to travel as far as they need.
However, dispelling this myth around the range, Professor Julia King comments: “97per cent of our journeys in the UK are less than 50 miles,” while Heiko Bornhoeft, Head of Product Marketing at smart reminds consumersL “The smart fortwo electric drive has a potential range of 84 miles between charges which is more than most people’s daily driving requirements.”
61 per cent of respondents also acknowledge that driving an electric vehicle could have money saving benefits. But how much exactly? On average, respondents in the smart Plugged-In Report state that they spend £1,100 on fuel a year. EDF Energy estimates that to charge a smart fortwo electric drive off peak or at weekends on the Eco 20:20 tariff will cost £1.51. Based on three charges per week the typical annual electricity cost is £236 – a saving of well over £850 per year.
“The saving on running costs of the smart fortwo electric drive isn’t limited to the massive saving in fuel – drivers can also benefits from paying no road tax, free parking and not paying the congestion charge in London – making the economical benefit as appealing as the environmental. ” comments Heiko Bornhoeft, Head of Product Marketing at smart.
