London motorists have the most range anxiety, whilst also feeling the most confident about doing basic repairs on electric cars, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
According to new research commissioned by the IMI, 82% of drivers feel they don’t know enough about electric vehicles to wave goodbye to their petrol/diesel version. Two thirds said they wouldn’t know where to find a charging point and nearly a third said they will never change to electric.
This should be troubling news for the Government, which has set itself a target year of 2040 for a complete ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles. Londoners appear to be the most unsure about electric vehicle range, yet are the most confident about owning an electric vehicle. Worryingly, London drivers also seemed to have the most confidence about doing basic repairs on an electric vehicle, which could have potentially fatal consequences.
The IMI study found that three quarters of drivers who hadn’t yet made the switch felt extra government subsidies would make electric vehicles more accessible, and the organisation believes that the Government needs to do more to educate car buyers on the benefits of switching to low emission vehicles.
The IMI research also identified the lack of knowledge about the expertise and training required to service and maintain electric vehicles. The professional body for the automotive sector found that nine in 10 drivers are not aware of the current training and qualifications necessary for technicians to work on an ultra-low emission vehicle. Yet, more troublingly, 59% of respondents said they would be confident to perform basic maintenance tasks on an electric vehicle themselves.
With no minimum training benchmark currently in place for technicians, and car technology becoming increasingly more hazardous, the IMI is working with the UK Government to implement a Licence to Practise for vehicle technicians working on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Steve Nash, Chief Executive at the IMI, said, “Range anxiety is one of the main reasons drivers are put off making the switch. Yet the IMI found that people’s weekly mileage is between 60-100 miles, which means that most drivers could actually make the switch to an ultra-low emission vehicle and would only need to charge their car once a week.
“The fact that over half of motorists thought they could do basic maintenance on an electric vehicle is also a huge concern. With technology moving at an unprecedented pace, it’s more important than ever that the motor retail sector is investing in quality training to upskill the workforce. This guarantees the safety of both the workforce and car owner, as well as signifying they have the skillset to maintain and repair electric and hybrid vehicles to a high standard. Businesses in the service and repair sector are competing for work, and with a record number of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads it’s important they take advantage of this new business.”
