Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Will Replace Family Cars

According to a study published by eurotaxglass, the UK’s leading vehicle valuation specialist, almost two thirds of British motorists agree or partly agree that EVs will replace their current family cars in the foreseeable future.

Of the total number of interviewed people, 23 percent believe that electric and hybrid vehicles could fully replace their household’s cars, while 37 percent say they might replace the second family car with an electric model. Despite these high percentages, 57 out of every 100 people taking the survey could not name any other make of electric or hybrid vehicle other than the Toyota Prius.

When asked about the future of electric cars, 53 percent answered that they were ‘the future of motoring’, compared to just 28 percent who thought they were a ‘marketing gimmick’. However, only 9 percent of motorists said they would actually consider buying an electric or hybrid vehicle as their next car. So even if people are considering green cars as an alternative, a number of issues still exist, preventing customers from actually buying one.

“The results of the survey are encouraging for the EV market and show that a large proportion of motorists can see electric or hybrid vehicles potentially replacing their main – or at least second – family vehicles, even if they are not yet willing to buy one. What is crucial now is that manufacturers do more to educate consumers on the practical benefits and constraints of owning these vehicles. The Government’s 2011 plug-in scheme, which will offer buyers up to £5,000 off EVs, will provide an excellent platform for doing so,” said Andy Carroll, Glass’s Managing Director.