While mainstream motorists looking to buy a car are finding that the cost of charging an EV versus filling an ICE car with fuel now favours traditional drivetrains, car manufacturers are looking for the best possible conditions to set up shop, and UK government is being urged to act now to avoid the country missing out. EV fervour falling as charging costs rise? Enthusiasm for EVs among the general public may be waning right now as electricity costs rise, with new research showing a 7% year-on-year drop in the number of drivers looking to buy an electric car. 60 AFTERMARKET MAY 2023 EVS AND HYBRIDS www.aftermarketonline.net RACE TO ZERO... Rising energy costs could be leading to EV enthusiasm among the general public cooling, just as the race to net zero is hotting up globally When the AA asked 15,000 people about their car-buying intentions for 2023, just 18% said they would go for an EV, down from 25% a year ago. However, 73% went on to say they would look to purchase and EV in the future. 31% observed that low running costs are a prime motivator when choosing a vehicle, and 30% say they are looking for a car that will last them a long time. Commenting on the findings, AA Cars Director Mark Oakley said: “It is reassuring for the car industry that so many drivers intend to buy a car this year, though stretched household budgets are often leading people to make different purchasing decisions. AA Cars search data shows buyers are showing particular interest in smaller cars that are affordable to buy and cheap to run. This may also be behind the cooling appetite for EVs, as they typically cost more upfront than their petrol or diesel equivalents.” EVs made up 4.8% of searches made on the AA’s used car platform, while in the same period in 2021 this was 11.2%. SMMT figures showed that 13% of new cars sold in January were EVs, while the average for all of 2022 was 17%. Only 1% of used car sold last year were EVs. EV servicing costs a third of ICE equivalents, survey suggests Fewer moving parts mean that EV servicing costs around a third less than a service for an internal combustion engine vehicle, a new survey has suggested.
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