Quarter of company car drivers and private buyers lack EV knowledge

How attitudes vary between private drivers and those who drive for work to electric vehicles (EVs) are revealed in new research from Europcar.

Quarterly results from the Europcar Mobility Group UK EV) barometer show that infrastructure and cost are significantly bigger challenges for private drivers than for company drivers.

Those who drive for work believe the lack of model options and vehicle availability are bigger issues for their employers.

In Q1 2024, almost two in three (63%) private drivers surveyed by Europcar were put off making the switch by the purchase and maintenance costs.

Half saw the lack of charging infrastructure as a barrier.

In contrast, 40% and 34% of company car drivers, respectively, said these barriers are holding employers back from switching to a more sustainable fleet. 

“It is perhaps unsurprising that cost is less of an issue for fleets, who secure and maintain vehicles at trade rates, while private drivers use savings or personal finance options,” said Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility at Europcar. “However, it is notable that cost is still an issue for a high proportion of businesses.

“Charging infrastructure has a bad reputation, however the network is growing rapidly across the UK and although it remains a real concern for business and private drivers, our data suggests it is less significant than upfront and maintenance costs.”

The other big hurdle is knowledge. More than one in five private and business drivers (23%) admit to a lack of knowledge around EV driving and ownership, highlighting the urgent need for driver and fleet manager education around the options and practicalities of zero emissions mobility, says Europcar.

“Our research has consistently found that uncertainty and misconceptions due to a lack of experience of electric vehicle ownership stand in the way of drivers opting to go electric,” added Middleditch.

Fleet decision-maker can boost their knowledge of the latest electric cars at the Fleet News test driving event Company Car In Action at Millbrook Proving Ground on June 12-13. They can also attend a manufacturer panel dscussion on each day to find out about the next-generation battery technology and models coming to market.

Middleditch said: “We believe this knowledge and choice of vehicles are behind the steady growth of interest in electric rental.

“Customers, whether renting for leisure or business, can drive electric in real world conditions. This helps put fear, uncertainty and doubt to rest and empowers drivers to switch to electric when they are ready.”