Aussies want electric cars to save cash, not the planet
More Australians will switch to electric cars if petrol prices continue to rise, with two in five citing electric and plug-in hybrid electric models as their preferred vehicle options, a study has found.
The trend comes as more and more drivers cite the fuel savings of switching to electric rather than environmental benefits or energy savings.
Research firm Pureprofile announced findings in its third electric vehicle report on Thursday; This report also found that men and millennials are most likely to make this switch.
The results come after sales of new electric vehicles surged in March and the Australian Automobile Association called for more charging stations funded by road user tax.
Pureprofile’s Electric Vehicles in Australia: Wave 3 report analyzed the attitudes and purchase intentions of more than 2000 respondents in February, with a follow-up study conducted in late March.
The researchers found that more than two in three Australians (68 per cent) would consider purchasing an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, with interest strongest among men (73 per cent) and drivers aged 25 to 44 (85 per cent).
32 percent of those planning to buy a car next year say they will most likely buy an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, while 39 percent prefer gasoline cars.
But according to the survey conducted in March, drivers were 10 percent more likely to choose an electric model in the wake of fuel shortages.
Pureprofile CEO Martin Filz said the change may be temporary but could persist if fuel prices remain high.
“The recent sharp increase is likely situational and indicates a short-term shift in thinking rather than a fundamental change,” he said.
“But we are seeing a steady upward trend in EV and hybrid consideration and overall purchase intent.”
The biggest reason to consider an electric car was fuel economy (51 percent), followed by environmental benefits (38 percent) and energy efficiency (31 percent), while the biggest barriers were high purchase prices (28 percent), inadequate charging stations (26 percent) and range anxiety (22 percent).
The Australian Automobile Association will launch a campaign on Thursday to address some concerns and call on the federal government to expand the charging network for electric cars.
Association chief executive Michael Bradley said the infrastructure could be paid for with a distance-based road user charge for electric vehicles.
“If designed and used properly, the road user charge could encourage EV adoption by sustainably funding the recharging network that Australia’s next generation of electric vehicle drivers want and need,” he said.
Although the charge has been put forward as a possible budget measure, Transport Minister Catherine King has expressed doubts about its implementation, saying the legislation does not follow a clear path through parliament.
