A study has found that the top things electric vehicle (EV) drivers wish they had known before making the switch to a battery-powered engine are how fast they can go, the distance they can travel before needing a charge, and even how to start the vehicle. Other questions that EV drivers had include whether electric cars are family-friendly and what to do if the vehicle runs out of battery on the road.
According to a survey of 500 EV drivers, 29% said they are glad they made the switch, with 76% believing that EVs are the future. However, 91% admitted that driving an EV took some getting used to, especially since many initially believed that battery-powered engines were not capable of making long journeys. But after experiencing it for themselves, almost half of the respondents (43%) believe that electric engines will replace petrol or diesel motors by 2030, aligning with the government’s aims.
The research, commissioned by car-sharing company Zipcar UK, coincides with the company reaching a milestone of 1,000 electric vehicles in its fleet. Zipcar UK aims to be fully electric by 2025.
The survey also revealed that the respondents knew an average of four other EV drivers, with eight in ten of them having a positive experience. Furthermore, 76% believe that switching from a combustion engine to an EV is one of the best ways to help the environment, although 73% think EVs are too expensive to buy outright.
In a separate poll of 2,000 people who have never driven an EV, half felt confident about driving one, and 48% of those lacking confidence expressed their desire to try one.
The research identified that 38% of non-EV drivers want more information about the range EVs can travel, while 49% want to familiarize themselves with driving a battery-powered car because they believe it is the future. However, 44% of these individuals do not believe that the battery lasts as long as they would like.
