- Price and range are the two most important purchasing factors when purchasing electric vehicles
- 23% of buyers would consider an electric vehicle from a brand they are not familiar with.
- Gender and generational preferences differ, and women are safety conscious
The most important factors drivers consider when choosing a new electric vehicle (EV) have been revealed in a new survey.
Price and range are the two purchasing factors most prioritized by new electric vehicle buyers, scoring 52 percent and 45 percent respectively in the Direct Line EV Insurance survey.
And with more than 18 new electric vehicle brands launched or about to be launched in the UK, including Ora, BYD, Fisker, Chery and Leapmotor, the new brands could make people cautious about buying.
But it turns out that this is not the case, as only 10 percent of drivers cite brand as an important factor when considering an electric vehicle, presenting a huge opportunity for lesser-known EV brands to enter the market. from United Kingdom.
The most important factors when purchasing a new electric vehicle have been revealed, with price and range topping the list, scoring 52 per cent and 45 per cent respectively in a new survey from Direct Line EV Insurance.
After range and price, drivers told Direct Line EV that build quality (20 percent) and safety (18 percent) are the most important factors to consider.
The economic running costs and savings that can be achieved with smart charging were not classified.
Electric cars have been found to reduce driving stress, but driving experience ranks low among purchasing factors.
In 2022, DS Autombiles surveyed 2,000 drivers and found that 38 percent of those who drive a car with an electrified powertrain said their current electric car makes them feel calmer compared to their previous gasoline or diesel vehicle.
But Direct Line EV found that only 16 percent of men said it was the most important factor, and only 13 percent of women.
When broken down by gender, interesting purchasing patterns between men and women stood out.
While both prioritized price equally (52 percent), men are more anxious about range: 47 percent say range is the most important purchasing factor, compared to 43 percent of women.
Women prioritized safety (23 percent vs. 13 percent of men), but weren’t as concerned about build quality. 26 percent of men voted for build quality as a vital purchasing consideration, but only 14 percent of women.
But both sexes gave equal importance to reviews (14 percent) and brand (10 percent).
Women rated safety as an important purchasing decision when purchasing a new electric vehicle much more than men: 23 percent versus 13 percent of men.
Michelle Breffit, co-founder of Women Drive Electric, said: ‘Women will place great importance on safety features and ratings when purchasing a car.
“Electric cars are a new technology and human nature makes us tired of change, regardless of gender, so it is very important that the automotive industry explains all the safety features without jargon so that everyone can understand the protection they have in a vehicle electric. .
“The survey fits with the tendency of women to be more risk averse: we want to know that we can get home in a reliable and safe car, especially since a woman’s car trip is more likely to be with a child or a elderly relative as a passenger.” .
Michelle Breffitt says women are more safety conscious
The differences are also generational, especially when it comes to price.
Young people are less focused on price than older generations: 47 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds said price was important, compared to 57 percent of 35- to 54-year-olds. 51 percent of those 55 and older said price was important.
Image-conscious young people said brand was important (17 percent), compared to 10 percent of 35- to 54-year-olds. Only 5 percent of participants ages 55 and older said brand is important.
With young drivers growing up in a world of electric vehicles and half of students wanting electric vehicle driving lessons, unsurprisingly, autonomy ranked much lower in purchase considerations: just 34 percent. percent of people between 18 and 34 years old said that autonomy is important.
And today, many electric vehicles have ranges that can take you from London to Edinburgh on a single charge, helping to dispel range angst.
Autonomy becomes more vital among older drivers: 45 percent of people between 35 and 54 years old say it is a priority when purchasing an electric vehicle, and 53 percent of people over 55 years old.
