Majority of motorists support electric cars

Most drivers would consider purchasing an electric vehicle in future, and nearly half expect they will actually own an EV by 2030.

Those are the principal findings in a recent carsales survey of 3000 respondents.

The ‘Consumer Attitudes survey’ was conducted in July, asking a series of questions posed by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).

According to the survey, 54 per cent would consider buying an electric vehicle for their next car, with 49 per cent seeing themselves in an electric car by 2030.

And carsales general manager of Customer Advocacy and Research, Deb Heaphy, says that a small majority of Australian consumers are ready to make the switch from fossil fuels and internal combustion to zero-emissions motoring right now.

“We have conducted comprehensive EV studies this year and what we are seeing is great news for new EV-centric brands coming to Australia – consumers are not only open to influence but are ready to buy an EV.

“Our recent survey shows that 54 per cent of respondents would consider purchasing an electric vehicle as their next car, and 51 per cent of those who currently own a petrol/diesel vehicle would consider buying an EV as their next car purchase.”

Up to 60 per cent of those surveyed in their 30s and 40s were prepared to go electric for their next car.

Seven per cent revealed that they were not currently in the market for a car at all, and three per cent advised that they already owned an EV. The remaining 39 per cent flatly refused to consider an EV for their next vehicle.

Government subsidies would encourage 40 per cent of respondents to buy an EV and 50 per cent would be willing to pay more for an electric vehicle than a conventional combustion-engined vehicle running petrol or diesel.

A narrow majority of 55 per cent said they would recharge their EV’s battery pack from domestic solar panels, with another 12 per cent willing also to purchase green power supplied through the national grid.

A whopping 92 per cent agreed that widespread public charging infrastructure was an important factor in driving up EV sales in Australia.

Specifically, those respondents are demanding fast or ultra-fast chargers that can recharge an electric car in as little as 15 minutes.

The survey also found that respondents are tempted to buy electric cars by their low running costs, eco-friendly performance and safety, but initial purchase price and the lack of charging infrastructure are two significant hurdles yet to be overcome.

“Australians are now well and truly ready to go electric,” said Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari.

“This survey shows we understand the personal benefits and we’re also ready to start contributing to the societal advantages of the electric transition – like lower carbon emissions, increased fuel security, and cleaner air.

“What this survey also demonstrates is Australians are well out ahead of their government when it comes to electric vehicle attitudes.

“Half the population now see themselves behind the wheel of an electric car by 2030. But they are frustrated by Australian policies that mean many of the best affordable EV models don’t make it to our shores.

“The politics on EVs has shifted massively in a short period of time, and politicians should ensure they don’t get stuck in the past. Australians now recognise the abundant advantages of driving an electric car. Their remaining hesitancy is about the support they are getting to make the switch.

“If the Australian government starts introducing policies to encourage EV take-up, similar to those in the UK, those policies will be met with overwhelming support from drivers and the broader electorate.”

Just a year since the EV Council’s previous survey, Australians are showing signs they’re much better informed about the typical range an electric car can travel on just one battery charge.

The majority (76 per cent) in 2021 expect EVs to offer a range in excess of 300km before the battery is depleted. That’s a significant gain on the 57 per cent in 2020.

The results reflect the changing views of many Australians who are beginning to see the potential of electric power for SUVs, passenger cars and commercial vehicles – such as the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the Tesla Model 3 and the Ford e-Transit.

That change of attitude may be the result of the growing diversity of EVs available for sale in Australia.

The full report is available here.