Environmental concerns are far less important to car buyers than design and costs to new car buyers, according to a new study.
A new study has identified a major shift in why drivers are choosing electric cars, with style and costs outstripping all other concerns.
The survey of more than 1,600 Renault EV owners found nearly two thirds (64%) cited design as their key motivating factor in choosing an electric model, making it the single most influential element.
Among buyers of the sharply-styled Renault 5, that figure rose to 71%, proving that the retro-inspired hatchback has struck a chord with young and old buyers.
Early EV adopters were largely thought to be driven by a passion for cutting-edge technology or a desire to be more environmentally friendly, so the new study suggests a change in mindset among motorists as EVs become more mainstream.
Behind looks, affordability was the second most important reason for drivers choosing an EV, and after taking ownership 66% of respondents said their EV was cheaper to run than expected.
In contrast, just 8% said that environmental reasons had motivated their choice to go electric.
Of those questioned, 69% were first-time EV buyers rather than returning “EVangelists”, and the survey echoed previous reports which show the vast majority have no regrets about making the switch.
A massive 96% said that they would recommend an electric car to friends and family and just 9% said they would ever consider switching back to a combustion-engined vehicle.
Away from the forecourt, the survey also found widespread satisfaction, with 60% saying their EV was even easier to live with than expected and just 8% expressing any concerns around range.
However, it also identified that major concerns still exist around public charging.
Asked about the biggest challenges as an EV owner, 57% identified the cost of public charging, which can exceed 80p/kWh at the most expensive sites. That was followed by problems with charger availability, both in public locations and for drivers without access to a private driveway.
Adam Wood, managing director of Renault UK, said that the survey proved the key to driving EV adoption was not compelling motorists to switch through regulation but by building cars they actually want to own and drive.
He commented: “The responses show that the next wave of EV adoption will be driven by making cars that people genuinely want. That’s why Renault has focused on developing cars with personality and charm, then made them accessible and affordable.
“They are cars bought for what they are, not simply what powers them. And the strongest proof of that is the owners themselves: the people who chose Renault EVs because they wanted them, are now proving just how well they work in the real world.”
