Greater than half (54%) of UK automotive consumers are contemplating an electrical car as their subsequent automotive, in keeping with new information from EY’s newest Mobility Client Index.

This is a rise from 49% final yr and better than the 41% of potential consumers contemplating an Inside Combustion Engine (ICE) car.

Nevertheless, the UK’s year-on-year development in desire towards EVs outpaces its uptick in general car-buying intent (which has grown from 44% to 45%), additional emphasising the rising dominance of EVs throughout UK shopper demand.

UK EV car-buying intent is broadly consistent with the typical throughout different main auto markets (55%).

The UK’s development in EV shopping for intent was pushed by will increase in recognition for plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs) and hybrids, with each seeing a rise in shopping for intent of three proportion factors in 2023.

Shopping for intent for Battery Electrical Autos (BEVs) in the meantime remained unchanged from 2022, with 19% of respondents saying they’re doubtless to purchase one.

Comparatively, 10% mentioned they’re more likely to go for a PHEV, whereas 25% mentioned they’re anticipating to buy a hybrid.

Excessive gasoline costs, rising environmental considerations, and penalties on Inside Combustion Engine (ICE) automobiles emerged as the important thing motivators for potential EV consumers.

The 41% of UK respondents indicating their intent to purchase an ICE car was down marginally from 42% in 2022, and considerably down on 2021’s determine of fifty%. The UK’s 2023 determine nonetheless stays barely above ICE car-buying intent within the different international locations featured within the survey (38%), which is down from 41% in 2022.

General car-buying intent fell from 45% in 2022 to 44% in 2023 throughout the twenty international locations included within the survey.

The survey collects views from 15,000 respondents throughout 20 of the automotive sector’s prime nations.

David Borland, EY UK & Eire automotive chief, mentioned: “The UK auto trade continues to show resilience to the numerous headwinds it has confronted in recent times, together with the pandemic, the battle in Ukraine, provide chain disruption, risky vitality costs and value of dwelling challenges.

“Demand continues to show sturdy restoration, with Could 2023 being the tenth consecutive month of development for passenger automotive gross sales.

“This was backed up by the survey findings, with a rise within the variety of customers preferring a private automotive versus automotive sharing, which is a pattern from the pandemic that continues to stay.

“The survey additionally highlights the continued demand from customers for various powertrain applied sciences that aren’t utterly reliant on public charging infrastructure.”

Value and comfort prioritised by customers 

Whereas EV shopping for intent within the UK has proven encouraging indicators of development within the final yr in keeping with EY’s newest Mobility Client Index, the report additionally highlights a number of key explanation why some customers are nonetheless being deterred from making the swap.

Of these to specific considerations round EVs, 37% mentioned they have been deterred by a scarcity of charging stations presently in place.

The second-most important issue dissuading UK respondents from making the EV transition was the substantial upfront price of EVs, with 36% deeming price a key concern, whereas restricted EV vary (27%), and costly charging/operating prices (26%) have been additionally cited.

Sixty-four per cent of respondents indicated that 200-300 miles can be an appropriate driving vary for an EV.

Forty-nine per cent, in the meantime, have been drawn to mid-range EVs, and 29% indicated their desire for premium EVs, regardless of the numerous proportion of these postpone from shopping for an EV resulting from substantial upfront prices.

With a specific deal with public chargers, respondents once more positioned comfort and value amongst their prime priorities.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents recognized difficulties finding chargers as a prime problem, whereas 47% mentioned the costly price of charging was a number one drawback. 

Forty per cent additionally displayed a insecurity within the reliability of public chargers, citing non-functional chargers as a number one concern.

The significance of charging infrastructure at personal houses, at workplaces and on streets close to houses is very important, with 89% of UK survey respondents saying they would favor to cost their EVs at one among these places.

Affordability provisions could must be put in place to speed up the UK’s EV transition, with 54% of these expressing considerations about at-home chargers stating excessive electrical energy payments have been a significant concern, whereas 44% mentioned they have been deterred by excessive set up prices.

Regardless of the continued challenges dealing with EV infrastructure, shopper confidence continues to extend, with 90% of UK EV homeowners presently out there for a car saying they might purchase one other EV, up from 87% in 2022.

Maria Bengtsson, electrical car lead at EY UK, mentioned: “EV shopping for intent continues to extend within the UK, as customers place a better deal with sustainability and attitudes in direction of EVs enhance.

“These findings from our newest Mobility Client Index are additionally backed up by the latest development in EV gross sales within the UK, with Battery Electrical Automobile (BEV) gross sales up 60% year-on-year in Could.

“Nevertheless, charging evidently stays a big concern for potential EV consumers, each in relation to availability and value.

“Whereas it’s clear that the variety of chargers throughout the UK might want to enhance considerably, it’s also crucial to make sure that charging capability is obtainable the place EV drivers want it.

“This, in flip, isn’t solely concerning the bodily chargers being in the best locations, however it’s also about making certain details about the place they’re positioned, their availability, and particulars of required cost strategies, are all simply and rapidly accessible to EV drivers.

“With customers nonetheless experiencing a scarcity of interoperability, the shopper expertise should even be improved and simplified if we’re to see sustained, important development in EV confidence amongst customers to match the UK Authorities’s decarbonisation aims.”