Some 38% of UK consumers are unlikely to buy an electric vehicle in the next five years due to a combination of high price, short battery life, short range and home recharging fears, according to research published May 21 by UK energy regulator Ofgem.
The survey of 4,600 respondents carried out by Ipsos MORI for Ofgem showed just 14% of consumers intended to install low carbon heating such as heat pumps, and only 60% identified domestic heating, like gas boilers, as playing a big part in contributing to climate change.
"Climate change can only be tackled if consumers are engaged in the process. For this to happen the transition to a low carbon economy needs to be fair, inclusive and affordable," said Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley.
On the other hand, 24% of consumers did plan to buy an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid in the next five years, while three in four recognized power generation and transport played a big part in climate change, the survey showed.
The UK's Climate Change Committee estimates there will be 18 million electric vehicles on UK roads by 2030, when the ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles is introduced.
The regulator would be making "a major investment announcement" early on May 24 ahead of the launch of its COP26 "green, fair future" campaign, it said.
