Twice as many drivers planning to buy an EV than two years ago

DrivingElectric.com has found that double the number of drivers are planning to buy an EV compared with two years ago.

More than one in five drivers now say their next car will be all-electric - overtaking diesel and hybrid buying intentions for the first time - putting EVs into second place as motorists’ preferred power option.

The findings come from the mainstream car market, rather than an audience specifically interested in electric vehicles. The researchers say that interest from mainstream motorists is now only marginally trailing that of existing EV enthusiasts.

Two years ago just 10% of drivers named electric as their preferred power option, compared with 26% for diesel, 43% for petrol and hybrids taking third place, on 14%.

But EVs have now shot up to 22%, with diesel sliding to 19%, hybrids falling to 16% and petrol also significantly down, at 37%.

Vicky Parrott, Associate Editor of DrivingElectric.com, said: "This is a big moment for the EV market, with electric cars poised to become the second most popular type on the road.

“We’re now seeing a breakthrough in the perceptions of electric vehicles, from a niche phenomenon to a genuinely mainstream choice.

"This is perfectly illustrated by the strength of interest among a non-specialist audience surfaced by our sister publication, Auto Express, and how closely it mirrored the buying plans of those who travelled from all over Britain to meet our team and look at the latest EVs.

"The views of car-buyers are clearly maturing as electric vehicles become more common. This means that the original chief selling points of EVs, such as very low running costs, are now being tempered by more traditional considerations around practicality, style, infotainment and comfort."