The switch to electric vehicles (EVs) appears to be stuck in neutral.

According to new figures, over half of Britons are not planning to make the switch to driving an EV.

In fact, 86% of respondents say they prefer petrol or diesel vehicles.

No change

The new survey by the price comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk quizzed motorists on the benefits of switching to an electric vehicle.

It found that 57% of those questioned said they were not planning to go electric.

Furthermore, 8% claim they will only make the switch just before the 2035 deadline set by the government if they are buying a new car.

Perhaps more worrying is that 78% of respondents said they are not looking forward to switching to an electric vehicle.

Only 9% say they intend to make the switch within the next two years, whilst a fifth (19%) say the switch will have to wait 2-10 years.

Deadlines

By 2035, all newly registered cars in the UK will need to be electric or zero-emission vehicles.

Before this, by 2030, 80% of new cars sold in Great Britain will be zero emission, reaching 100% by 2035.

These changes fall under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV), which sets the percentage of new zero-emission vehicles manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030.

Priced out

Questioned on why they’re not prepared to make the switch to electric earlier, over a third (36%) of respondents cited costs.

Respondents say that EVs are too expensive, and one in five (21%) say the charging infrastructure isn’t good enough.

There are just over 62,000 charging points across just under 33,000 charging locations in the UK.

Other reasons included concerns over mileage (11%) and the cost of installing a home charging device (4%).

Premium pricing

2% of those questioned blamed high insurance costs, though the price difference is quite substantive at present.

Of all engine types, insurance costs are usually the highest for an electric vehicle, currently averaging around £996 annually.

This represents a hike of 54% over the average petrol vehicle and 13% more expensive than this time last year.

It is also notable that diesel and petrol insurance premiums are decreasing slightly through 2024, while electric premiums remain high.

Electric vehicle owners will also be required to pay vehicle tax from April 2025 – currently, they are exempt.

Type / Quarter 2023Q1 2023Q2 2023Q3 2023Q4 2024Q1 2024Q2
Electric £801 £884 £994 £992 £961 £996
Diesel £580 £659 £756 £822 £786 £764
Petrol £511 £569 £637 £717 £678 £647

Jan 2023 – June 2024

Change is coming

Greg Wilson, CEO and electric car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk, says the findings “highlight a significant reluctance amongst UK motorists to transition to electric vehicles”.

All this is despite the fast-approaching deadlines over phasing out traditional combustion engines.

“The hesitation is understandable, based on the cost of electric vehicles and the current charging infrastructure.

“The average new electric car in the UK is estimated to cost around £50,000, that’s over £10,000 more than the average medium-sized petrol car such as a Ford Focus.

“There are also additional costs to take into account including higher insurance premiums and now vehicle tax.

“The challenge over the coming decade will be addressing these concerns and supporting motorists in the transition to electric vehicles.

“The future of motoring is electric, but we have some way to go before we achieve the ambitious targets that have been set.”