Electric cars are suitable for one-in-five new car buyers

An electric vehicle is the best option for nearly one-in-five new car buyers in the UK, according to research by What Car?

Analysis of the daily mileage, driving habits and vehicle requirements for more than 8,400 users of the What Fuel? Calculator shows 19.2% of drivers could use a fully electric vehicle (EV) as their daily driver without compromising their routine.

The What Car? What Fuel calculator found 63.8% of new car buyers should opt for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle as their next car, while diesel and petrol models came out on top for just 12.5% and 4.8% of new car buyers respectively.

What Car?’s research found EVs are suitable for some drivers covering more than 15,000 miles a year and even those who live rurally. The best EVs can now cover more than 200 miles on a single charge – including the current What Car? Car of the Year, the Kia e-Niro, which comes with a WLTP-approved 282-mile range and a What Car? Real Range of 253 miles under real-world driving conditions. The What Car? Electric Vehicle White Paper revealed that many potential owners remain concerned about range, while others fail to take into account the savings from running an electric vehicle when searching for a new car.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “There are more than 20 different fully electric vehicles available, with many giving their petrol and diesel counterparts a serious run for their money. Yet electric ownership is lagging behind its potential. Our What Car? What Fuel tool shows nearly a fifth of drivers could make a seamless switch to electric ownership right now.

“Our previous research highlighted a ‘knowledge gap’ among new car buyers, with car manufacturers identified as not providing enough information on the benefits of owning an EV. Since our research, many manufacturers have updated the information on their websites, but more could still be done. The more people learn about the benefits of running and owning an electric car, the faster the technology can reach its full potential.”