Nearly half (46%) of British consumers will look to purchase an EV in the next five years, according to a new survey by professional services company GHD.
The study asked those who do not currently own a hybrid or fully electric vehicle if they would contemplate purchasing either in the near future.
It found that appetite in the UK is higher among those living in city centres and urban areas, at 57% and 49%, respectively, with those aged between 18-35 most likely to purchase an EV.
However, the report also found that even those looking to purchase an EV are not confident about having access to enough reliable charging infrastructure locally, accounting for 47% of those expressing interest.
Furthermore, two out of five UK respondents said they believe there are currently too many barriers to driving an EV, while Britain also had a low level of confidence regarding ability to install a charger at home (36%).
David Maunder, technical leader for future energy at GHD, said: “It is clear that we are entering the era of the electric vehicle, with our survey showing strong demand among UK consumers.
“However, there are perceived obstacles that remain a handbrake on consumer uptake, as shown by the number of respondents who say they would seriously consider buying an EV but currently believe there are too many barriers to ownership.
“Accessible charging infrastructure is clearly critical to EV uptake, and an area of particular concern for consumers.
“However, with batteries and point-of-use technology becoming more accessible, we should see a rapid uptake of this infrastructure in the coming five years, which will help drive the roll-out.
“The UK government has rightly placed a lot of focus of EVs in its 10-point plan, pledging £2.8bn of investment, including £1.3bn to accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure, and bringing forward the phase-out date for sales of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030.”
