April 10th, 2023, Janice Fernandes
Recent reports say that the battery range of an EV is affected in the winter, affecting the driving range. And while the pros of owning an EV might outweigh the cons, what troubles are EV owners in Britain facing?
Data from a recent survey conducted using YouGov Surveys: Self-serve reveals that while 90% of Britons are satisfied with their purchase of electric vehicles, nearly half of them face range anxiety and fear of running out of battery charge while driving (49%). But the biggest grievance of all is limited availability of charging stations in certain areas – more than two-thirds of British EV owners have experienced it (69%).
Nearly half of Britons who have purchased electric vehicles have noticed a higher purchase cost compared to petrol or diesel cars (49%). But the recent Tesla announcement to cut electric car prices could level the playing field so to speak.
A third of EV owners have noticed increased electricity bills for charging their cars (34%). Around a quarter say that charging time is too long, especially for longer trips (26%).
Limited battery life and range degradation is something one in seven British EV owners have experienced (14%). Discharging of battery when not in use is another difficulty experienced by 8% of owners.
While inadequate vehicle performance or power in comparison to gasoline cars is not high up the list (3%) and neither is unanticipated maintenance costs (3%), EV owners are twice as likely to say it’s difficult to find qualified mechanics to work on their electric vehicles (6%).
But it’s not all bad experiences for British electric car owners. Around four-fifths of Britons find the quiet and smooth driving experience enjoyable (84%).
Although a significant share of consumers say that the initial cost is high, and the electricity bills have increased, three-quarters of consumers say they are happy with the overall low operating costs (75%).
More than six in ten find instant torque (63%) and regenerative braking (61%) useful in their electric car, while around half enjoy the one-pedal driving (51%).
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Methodology: YouGov polled 590 British EV owners on March 27, 2023. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, region, and social grade. Results are nationally representative of adults in Great Britain. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Self-serve.