Brits don’t plan on buying an electric car for almost a decade – but three quarters of motorists have no idea about the grants on offer for them
A high upfront cost for plug-ins has been cited as one of the main reasons drivers are put off purchasing one
UK motorists refuse to buy a plug-in car within the next nine years, blaming high upfront costs as one of the main reasons why.
However, 76 per cent of drivers are completely unaware that the government provides a grant of up £4,500 for eligible electric and hybrid vehicles.
While Brits change their car every two to three years, only a quarter would buy a plug-in as their next motor.
A lack of charge points was also cited as a main reason why drivers prefer a traditionally-fuelled car.
There are currently 17,612 connectors around 6,131 locations nationwide, according to ZapMap.
Over 400 charge points were also installed in the last 30 days alone.
Plug-in car grants - all you need to know
- You do not need to apply for a government grant when buying a new electric or hybrid car - the dealer will include the value in its price.
- There are three categories cars fall into depending on their CO2 emissions, as well as separate lists for vans, motorbikes, taxis and mopeds.
- Cat 1 - have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 112km (70 miles) without any CO2 emissions at all. The grant will pay for 35 per cent of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £4,500.
- Cat 2 - have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 16km (10 miles) without any CO2 emissions at all. The grant will pay for 35 per cent of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £2,500.
- Cat 3 - have CO2 emissions of 50 to 75g/km and can travel at least 32km (20 miles) without any CO2 emissions at all. The grant will pay for 35 per cent of the purchase price for this vehicle, up to a maximum of £2,500.
- Cars that cost over £60,000 and fall into Category 2 or 3 are not eligible for the grant.
- A full list of eligible plug-in vehicles and further information can be found .
The stats, found in a study commissioned second-hand car site AutoTrader, remain somewhat unchanged from perspectives last year despite the government's push for eco-friendly motors.
Nearly half of respondents said they didn't care more about fuel types than they did 12 months ago.
There does, however, seem to be a shift more toward petrols from diesels, as the latter is down from a peak of 72 per cent of all AutoTrader searches in June 2018 to a current 47 per cent cent.
Brits also think that the government's 2030 goal for at least half of all new cars sold to be electric is unrealistic.
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Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low, said: “Drivers making the switch are already reaping the benefits.
";EVs can be driven for as little as 2p per mile, compared with 10-12p for a conventionally powered vehicle, meaning the typical car owner can save hundreds of pounds every year in fuel costs alone.
"There are also additional savings such as tax benefits and reduced servicing and maintenance costs.
"Although charging is one of the biggest barriers to mass consumer uptake, almost half of motorists drive less than 15 miles a day, while 98 per cent said they travel less than 100 – well within the range of pure electric vehicles and easily achievable in a plug-in hybrid.
";What’s more, charging data also shows more than 90 per cent of all EV charging takes place at home, bringing added convenience for drivers.”