According to a new global study by Accenture, the majority of consumers would consider buying a plug-in electric vehicle as their next car purchase.
Seventy one per cent would prefer a plug-in hybrid to a pure battery electric vehicle with 60 per cent of consumers willing to consider a plug-in electric vehicle as their next car purchase. Indeed 68 per cent think they would probably or certainly do so within the next three years – and in China this number rises to 96 per cent.
It is believed however, that charging plug-in electric vehicles could challenge utilities and charging service providers by increasing grid congestion and peak time electricity demand.
Among the results were that 67 per cent of consumers are not willing to let charge point operators limit when they can charge their plug-in electric vehicles; and 62 per cent would reject battery swapping, preferring to plug in their car to recharge the battery. Meanwhile, 55 per cent would only plug in their vehicle when they to charge up rather than whenever they park; and only 29 per cent of drivers would buy fully electric plug in electric vehicles.
In addition, it finds that although the average consumer drivers no more than 40 miles per day, 52 per cent said that for them to consider a plug-in electric vehicle for their next purchase, they would need to offer a range of 249miles. Meanwhile, 80 per cent would want to know the source of the electricity used to charge their car; and 51 per cent would be motivated to buy a plug-in electric vehicle for their next purchase if total running costs were lower than for a conventional vehicle.
