More than half of young drivers want their first car to be electric.

The latest research suggests driving instructors are increasingly facing a new generation of learners for whom an EV is the preferred choice rather than an alternative to a petrol car.

With it comes the dilemma of whether to gain a manual or an automatic licence.

Wired in

New research commissioned by E.ON Next has found that 55% of 17 to 20-year-olds who are learning to drive or considering getting behind the wheel want their first car to be an electric vehicle.

The research, which surveyed 1,500 young and prospective drivers, suggests that attitudes towards petrol and diesel cars are changing rapidly.

Almost a quarter (23%) said owning a petrol car was as outdated as using a landline, while 36% described petrol cars as old-fashioned.

A fifth of respondents (21%) said they could not see themselves ever driving a petrol car, while 63% believe petrol and diesel vehicles will disappear during their lifetime.

More than half (53%) think their generation will be the last to drive combustion-engined cars routinely.

Cash is king

Cost is a major factor behind the change.

56% of young drivers believe owning an EV will save them money, while 20% specifically identified lower day-to-day running costs as a reason for choosing electric.

Home charging appealed to 19%, while 18% liked the prospect of not having to visit a petrol station regularly.

E.ON Next’s economic modelling suggests that a young driver could save as much as £890 in their first year by choosing an EV and charging at home, although actual savings will depend on the vehicle, mileage, electricity costs, and charging arrangements.

The research also suggests that the change could influence families.

Some 41% of young drivers said they had received support from a parent or guardian to get an EV, while 36% said they were actively encouraging their parents to switch to electric.

Almost one in three (29%) said they had already influenced a parent or guardian to make the change.

Pump or plug

For driving instructors, the findings could have important implications.

The traditional choice for a learner has been between learning in a manual petrol or diesel car and taking the automatic route.

But as virtually all EVs are automatic, the growing popularity of electric cars could accelerate the shift towards automatic tuition.

DVSA figures have already shown a substantial increase in automatic driving tests, with automatic cars accounting for around a quarter of practical tests in recent years.

The continuing growth of EVs could push that proportion higher as learners increasingly see little benefit in gaining a manual licence if their intended vehicle is electric.

For ADIs, this could create a commercial opportunity but also require investment.

Instructors may need to consider offering automatic and EV tuition, while developing their own knowledge of regenerative braking, one-pedal driving, charging, range management and the different handling characteristics of electric vehicles.

Evolving

“The really striking thing is that this generation isn’t growing up with the assumption that their first car will be petrol,” said EV expert Robert Llewellyn.

“They’re looking at what’s available today and making a practical choice. There are more electric vehicles to choose from than ever before, more affordable ways to get behind the wheel, and the opportunity to keep running costs down by charging at home.”

The findings suggest the question facing instructors may increasingly be not whether learners want to learn in an automatic, but whether they want to learn in an EV.

For driving schools investing in electric options, the emerging EV generation could therefore represent not a threat to traditional driving instruction, but a significant new market.