A recent survey has revealed that four in ten British drivers would rather their next car purchase be zero-emission…

Rising Demand for Zero-Emission Cars

The latest EY Mobility Consumer Index (MCI) survey, which included 1,000 British respondents, has revealed a rising appetite for zero-emission motoring. Just over four in ten of them (41%) are actively looking for a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV). That’s up by a significant 16% since the last MCI in November. Slightly more long-term, 71% of the respondents said they’d be looking for one within the next 12 months. 

The survey’s respondents gave different reasons for their purchasing intentions. The most common reason was concern for the environment (47%); with 68% of this group stating that the coronavirus pandemic had raised their awareness of environmental issues. A further 48% said purchasing a ZEV was a way of reducing a person’s own environmental impact, and 45% said getting one is one the best ways to do it. 

Arguably the most important finding was the fact that 58% of respondents said they’d be willing to pay a premium for a ZEV. Some 29% said they’d be willing to pay a premium of up to 20%. Those willing to pay a premium rise to 91% for those respondents hoping to get ZEV as their next car. That said, 60% of drivers not currently looking for a ZEV suggested that price was actually the main barrier for making a transition. 

EVs Gathering Pace

Charlie Simpson, EY-Parthenon Partner and UK Future Mobility Lead, commented on the survey’s results. He said, “the rise of the EV across the UK and the globe is gathering pace. With our latest reports showing that a significant number of UK consumers looking to buy a car will actively consider an EV; up 16 percentage points from November 2020. Rising EV sales have been one of the stand outs for UK car sales over recent quarters. And this rise is set to increase”. 

He continued, “what’s interesting here is that, for the first time, a significant number of consumers claim they are willing to pay a premium for an EV; either due to environmental concerns or an understanding that the long-term costs will likely be lower. This would be a fundamental shift in customer attitudes in what is a mature UK auto retail market. And one that will be critical if emissions targets are to be achieved”. 

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