Only 3% of drivers would have confidence in buying a used electric vehicle (EV), new research suggests.
The findings, from the AA and Electrifying.com, reveals that concerns about battery life are a major barrier, with more than a third of respondents (38%) saying a ‘formalised’ battery health certificate would give them more confidence. There is also a significant gap between perception and reality when it comes to EV batteries.
Just 2% of drivers believe a battery typically lasts longer than a petrol or diesel engine, despite growing real-world evidence that modern EV batteries often outlast their combustion equivalents.
AA president Edmund King says that its research shows that “drivers need convincing on battery longevity” before buying used EVs.
However, he believes used buyers should be “reassured” that the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires manufacturers to provide an eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty, which will cover most used EVs.
Mark Smith, head of fleet and used cars for Tesla UK and Ireland, recognised the need to give used buyers confidence to make the switch: “All our vehicles have a built-in tool for checking the health of the battery. We hope other manufacturers adopt this thinking, to benefit the transition to sustainable energy.”
The survey of 11,000-plus drivers, who do not currently drive an EV as their main car, also shows that targeted, practical measures would have far more impact on behaviour than headline incentives for a small number of new electric cars – particularly given that used cars make up around 75% of annual sales.
Almost half (44%) of drivers say incentives towards the purchase of a used EV - such as the interest-free loan funded by Transport Scotland - would make them more likely to buy a zero or hybrid vehicle.
