According to a study carried out by the British automotive services company RAC, 78% of drivers consider that electric cars are still too expensive than their petrol or diesel engine counterparts, making their acquisition not affordable for a large part of the population.
On the other hand, the study has also discovered that more and more people consider electricity when changing their current car, going from 6% in 2019 to 9% in 2020. 53% of those surveyed also declared that he favored a reduction or even the total elimination of VAT on this type of vehicle.
48% of the study participants defended creating a state scrapping plan to purchase electric vehicles more accessible. On the other hand, around 30% favored increasing the aid granted to plug-in cars to 4,000 pounds.
“The biggest barrier for a driver choosing an electric car over one that runs on gasoline or diesel is cost,” says Rod Dennis, a spokesman for RAC. It is interesting to remember that the UK recently advanced the ban on combustion engine cars’ sale to 2030.
“Most drivers are eager to see more financial help from the government to reduce costs. If the government wants to stimulate demand for electric vehicles quickly, it has to increase subsidies to purchase electric cars or reduce VAT for a fixed period.
A healthy market for electric cars in the UK will also have another significant benefit: it will mean that more electric vehicles will find their way into the second-hand market, improving the affordability of zero-emission models for all.”