Alfonso Martinez, UK managing director, ALD Automotive | LeasePlan UK, shares his thoughts on what more can be done to encourage drivers to make the switch to EVs.

Alfonso Martinez, UK managing director, ALD Automotive | LeasePlan UK

A recent report from Cupra has revealed that seven in 10 drivers say they will be driving a fully electric vehicle within the next 10 years.  When asked if they were happy about making the transition to EVs, a whopping 94% of Cupra EV owners backed their decision. The report also revealed that zero Cupra EV owners said that they would go back to a petrol or diesel car after making the transition.

The findings from Cupra mark a significant shift towards electric vehicles, with those who have made the switch to EV ownership seeing it as inevitable in the future.

However, the report found that non-EV drivers were more sceptical about the future of electric vehicles, with almost two-thirds not convinced about making the switch. Drivers who hadn’t yet made the switch to EVs were reported as more hesitant or not looking to make their next vehicle electric.

Despite the growing interest in EVs, the data highlight a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of EVs. It shines a light on divided EV perceptions with an understanding of different viewpoints about the future of electric vehicles.

These findings mirror the conversations we’ve been having with drivers: that once you’ve made the switch to EV, it’s very hard to imagine going back to a petrol or diesel vehicle. Whether it’s the smooth and responsive steering, the quiet that comes with not having a combustion engine or knowing you’re producing zero carbon emissions, there’s so much to enjoy.

That’s why it’s so important to give people the opportunity to discover these benefits for themselves. Our research shows that most UK motorists have never had the opportunity to drive an EV, with just one in 10 drivers having ever sat behind the wheel of an EV. Without this first-hand experience, it’s easy to stick to what you know and avoid change.

So how can we get more people in EVs? Well, the first is to give them a good incentive. Most drivers understand that EVs are better for the environment than petrol or diesel, but the perceived higher costs are holding them back.

As of now, there are several incentives funded by the Government that are helping to make electric driving more appealing to drivers. This includes lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates than ICE vehicles and also reduced VAT rates on public home charging. But this should go further. Introducing measures such as reducing VAT on public charging, from 20% to 5%, and aligning it with plugging in at home, would be a useful step in incentivising the case for switching to EVs – especially for drivers without off-street parking

There also continues to be a degree of uncertainty around certain incentives such as VED rates, which are set to rise from April 2025 and will be equalised across all cars including electric vehicles. This sends mixed messages to drivers at a time when the Government is trying to encourage them to switch to battery power and could impact the adoption of EVs.

Businesses too have a role to play in supporting the transition to EVs. Introducing incentives such as salary sacrifice is one way of encouraging employees to switch to EVs. Encouraging employees to opt for a salary sacrifice scheme offers a cost-effective path to ‘ownership’ and this financial support helps to break down the barrier of cost to EV adoption – opening the door for them to experience driving an electric vehicle.