26 September 2024
This year’s iteration of the Great EV Charging Survey underscores another resounding ‘Yes’ from EV drivers: 91% would not return to a petrol or diesel car, backed up by the 86% who are finding EVs cheaper to run. Increasing concerns over misinformation are not hampering satisfaction rates and growth in the market, it would seem.
With over 1,700 respondents, EVA England has released an in-depth report on the survey findings, revealing important shifts in the EV consumer base and drivers responding well to improvements in the public charging network.
Among drivers who bought their car under a year ago, more than half reported cost as the main decision factor, suggesting the ‘typical’ EV driver is now more price driven and considering EVs increasingly more as a consumer product like any other, and a practical means of getting from A to B. Demographics among respondents have also shifted, showing a more even gender split and lower average household income. Most notably, there is increased activity in the second-hand market. 30% of drivers who purchased an EV in the past year purchased second-hand, the highest represented category.
The report provides an in-depth look at the charging landscape, too, revealing 64% of drivers feel the public network has improved in the last 12 months. This coincides with the record year-on-year increase of 65,000 chargers led by intensive Government input in the sector.
The survey responses do stress remaining concerns with the network, however. Of the majority of drivers who mostly charge at home, a resounding 91% are finding EVs cheaper to run. But switch to drivers who only charge publicly, and we find a small minority of 3 in 10 who are finding EVs more expensive.
EV charging costs can vary from as low as 7p per kWh via home charging, to closer to 80p per kWh on a rapid public charger. Among EVA England’s policy solutions is a push to expand the ‘Right to Charge’, granting more drivers without the luxury of off-street parking, easier and cheaper access to charging. 85% of respondents were in favour of removing restrictions over gully installations, for example: a technological solution allowing drivers to connect their home charger to the curb safely that is currently restricted by most local authorities.
Furthermore, more than two thirds of drivers are also in favour of mandating larger businesses to provide EV charging points for their employees. Such a measure could look similar to the Home Charging Regulations introduced in 2021, mandating major property renovations including 10 or more parking spaces to include at least one EV charger.
Overall, the survey confirms drivers are standing firm against the spread of misinformation against the sector, with steady growth, overwhelming satisfaction rates, and a diversifying demand all underlining strong progress for EVs in the past year.
Vicky Read, ChargeUK CEO, says:
“It’s really encouraging to see drivers acknowledge the improvements in the public charging network over the past year. With one public charger being installed every 25 minutes, and the network as a whole growing 42% a year, availability has never been better.
“However, our members want to roll out even faster and ensure there is provision for drivers who cannot charge at home. We also know that owning and charging an EV needs to be affordable. Therefore, we are looking to the new Government to remove delivery barriers, speed up public procurement for on-street charging and address unfair VAT and standing charges on electricity, so that we can offer convenient and affordable charging for all.”
Baroness Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee 2021-2024, says:
“When we published the House of Lords Environment & Climate Change Committee’s 2024 report assessing the UK’s electric vehicle strategy, we stressed that the UK’s legally binding net zero target by 2050 fundamentally requires a successful transition to electric vehicles.
“EVA England’s survey confirms some of the positive strides made with uptake and, most notably, charging infrastructure. But it also underscores how much work we have left to do. Access to charging remains unequal and the cost is in some cases too high. We have not quite reached the point at which EVs are affordable to all sections of the population, either. Similar to the conclusions of our report, this survey supports a need for Government focus on the sector in the years ahead.”
James Court, Chief Executive of EVA England, says:
“Our survey is always a yearly highlight in giving us real time feedback on which aspects of the EV landscape are working, and which still require some concerted effort. It’s great to see satisfaction rates remain so high in the context of heightened misinformation, and so encouraging to see more people consider EVs who seemingly weren’t just a year ago.”
Notes to editors
Press Contact: press@evaengland.org.uk
02038 220 811