Electric cars survey: Few drivers plugged into idea of going electric

A TINY number of people – less than a half of 1 per cent – intending to buy a new car in 2010 are likely to buy an electric vehicle. That is according to a survey of more than 7,000 motorists carried out by the AA.

However, while the survey showed low levels of firm commitments to buy electric cars now, 11 per cent said they would buy one sometime after this year; and a further 34 per cent said they were undecided.

Overall, 53 per cent of motorists were found by the survey, Consumer Car Buying Trends 2010, to have no intention of converting to electric.

But that leaves 47 per cent of the car-driving public at least prepared to consider owning an electric car.

While the electric car was favoured in theory, motorists are waiting until the infrastructure is more developed.

“Range anxiety” – concern about the practicalities and efficiency of long-distance journeys – still appears to be the big deterrent, according to the AA.

There was bad news generally for further new car sales with just 6 per cent of those intending to buy a car in 2010 planning to buy a new vehicle.

Just 16 per cent of motorists questioned said they would change the car in 2010 – and more than half of those said they would buy second hand.

Some 68 per cent of motorists said they are not likely to buy a new vehicle “at any stage in the near future”.