Skip to main content

Climate fears driving EV buyers, says Geotab

Reducing their environmental impact is as likely to persuade UK consumers to buy an electric vehicle (EV) as saving money, according to a new survey. Connected vehicle company Geotab surveyed 3,001 consumers on factors that appeal to them in an EV. Four out of 10 respondents are motivated by reducing their impact on the environment - compared to 45% for lowering running costs and 37% for lowering tax costs. Regional findings showed climate was a priority for nearly half the participants from the So
October 15, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Reducing their environmental impact is as likely to persuade UK consumers to buy an electric vehicle (EV) as saving money, according to a new survey.

Connected vehicle company Geotab surveyed 3,001 consumers on factors that appeal to them in an EV. Four out of 10 respondents are motivated by reducing their impact on the environment - compared to 45% for lowering running costs and 37% for lowering tax costs.  

Regional findings showed climate was a priority for nearly half the participants from the South West of England and 45% of those living in North West and South East. At the bottom of the ranking, climate was selected by 37% of respondents from London and the East of England.

The research also suggests a surge in sales demand, with 60% of those planning a car purchase expecting their next vehicle to be hybrid or fully electric.

However, four out of 10 participants are concerned about range anxiety and nearly a third worry about where they would charge their vehicle.

Despite this, 97% of respondents have daily round-trip commutes of under 100 miles which - according to Geotab - is below the average 224-mile range of 3883 Jaguar I-Pace, 838 Nissan Leaf, 2453 Renault Zoe, 994 Volkswagen e-Golf and 8534 Tesla Model X.

Edward Kulperger, Geotab vice president Europe, says: “This data shows not only that improvements to infrastructure are vital to encourage EV adoption and that the industry needs to do more to educate consumers about how far the technology has come, but that the British public are primed to buy into electrification.”

Related Content

  • October 10, 2018
    Pivot Power: 'We need to rethink the EV customer experience'
    Electric vehicles will increasingly become a key part of the mobility mix but charging infrastructure is currently patchy. Adam Hill talks to Matt Allen of Pivot Power about disruption, horses, slot machines – and the importance of customer experience. Electric vehicles (EVs) – including buses, taxis and cars for individual and shared use – are already a common sight on our roads. They are not yet ubiquitous. But that will come. There will be around 30 million electric cars in the world by 2030 (as they
  • February 26, 2016
    New charging network brings electric motoring to UK drivers
    The completion of a new charging network that stretches the length of Britain’s busiest roads makes long-distance, cross-border journeys by electric vehicles (EV) a realistic prospect for millions more drivers in the UK and Ireland. The network stretches from Stranraer in Scotland to Suffolk in the East of England, from Hull in the North East to Holyhead in north-west Wales, connecting with Belfast in Northern Ireland and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Each installation includes at least two of t
  • June 17, 2013
    Study shows lifetime cost of EVs is comparable to conventional vehicles
    Consumers who purchase an electric vehicle will find that costs to own the vehicle are competitive with conventional and hybrid vehicles, according to an analysis conducted by the US Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The study compares the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf with petrol-fueled cars that reflect average costs for different makes and models. Nissan lowered the price of the Leaf by about US$6,000 in January. It looks at several factors, including petrol and power prices, incentives, financi
  • January 31, 2014
    UK drive to be world leader in electric cars
    UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced that government will invest more than US$15 million to boost the number of charging points for electric cars. Major car manufacturers BMW, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Vauxhall are all backing the Go Ultra Low campaign in a ground breaking partnership with government to debunk common myths and misconceptions that put drivers off switching to electric or hybrid cars, such as cost and how far the vehicles can travel before being recharged. Electric car o