According to a motorist survey the major reason electric vehicles have failed to take off is down to consumer confusion.
GFK Automotive, a market research company, conducted a survey which found that it is the public most interested in buying an electric vehicle who have the least understanding of the practicalities of owning one.
3161 motorists were polled and only 8% said that they would either, probably or definitely purchase an electric vehicle at some point.
The survey also revealed that the majority of people polled who expressed an interest in switching to an electric mode of transport had vastly underestimated the time required to charge a vehicle and the cost to buy one, whilst overestimating the range a vehicle can cover.
The cost of electric cars can be £25,000 even allowing for the £5,000 grant incentive from the government.
Of the people polled who intended to buy an electric car, it was found that 44% thought they would cost less or the same as a traditional vehicle.
Additonally 60% were under the impression that electric vehicles would only take a maximum of two hours to be fully charged, whereas in reality it takes closer to 6 hours.
52% thought that the travel range would be double what it is, 200 miles rather than the actual figure of approximately 100.
The remaining people polled, who did not have any interest in acquiring an electric car, were deterred by the limited battery range – 75%, battery charging times – 59%, with 63% put off by the price.