MSE Forum Poll: Will you be driving an electric car within the next five years?

Former_MSE_Daniel

There's already a lot of people driving a fully electric or hybrid(s) car in the UK. 

But for those drivers that haven't already made the change, there can be reluctance. 'Range anxiety', lack of charging infrastructure in your area and concerns about future changes like pay-per-mile which is currently in consultation may be putting you off.

So, for those of you who haven't yet moved over to an electric car, when do you think you might?

subjecttocontract

The question needs clarification......are you including hybrids, both types or just full EV ?

subjecttocontract

What about people who have more than one car ? the term 'move over' to electric might not apply because some of their driving will still include petrol and diesel.

One of my cars is a hybrid but I don't necessarily drive it because it's a hybrid. It's a large vehicle, I use it sometimes because I need a larger vehicle. 😁😁

ButterCheese

No, it won't be in the next five years

We have a Diesel and will run it into the ground before getting a new one.  I don't mind the idea of an electric but as well as range anxiety, there is also used battery anxiety.  A lot of these headlines and surveys assume that most people can afford to buy or lease a new EV which is simply unrealistic in most working class scenarios.  I'm not going to spend £10k - £20k on a used EV with no warranty, and not knowing how much longer the battery is going to last before it either loses significant range or fails completely.  

twopenny

No, it won't be in the next five years

Apart from the effect on the planet of building them and the chemicals released from the road because of the weight I experiencing exasperation with these massive vehicles that don't fit in the lanes on our narrow country roads.
We've also got the problem where our town roads that should have room for 3 cars, one parked, two passing, we are now restricted to having to take turns single file down the roads. 
Darn things are just massive!

kimwp

Hopefully, range/battery anxiety and expense of a new car when I don't use mine much is driving (haha) inertia.

Dustyevsky

No, it won't be in the next five years

If I were to take an electric car to the garages here out in the sticks, they wouldn't know how to fix it, or have the main dealer tools. 

Besides, Peak Car in many people's opinion was around, 2005-12. After that, greater complexity and squeezing more power from smaller engines has led to unreliability in many instances. I'm happy driving my 2008 petrol car. It has many conveniences and the local garages can fix any issues. The nearest main dealers, who don't cater for people with my relatively low income, are 25 miles away or more.   

Dustyevsky

No, it won't be in the next five years

twopenny said:

Apart from the effect on the planet of building them and the chemicals released from the road because of the weight I experiencing exasperation with these massive vehicles that don't fit in the lanes on our narrow country roads.
Darn things are just massive!

To be fair, they're not all massive. My friend has a Toyota hybrid, which is about Focus-sized. 

But yes, I used to think my Honda CRV was quite large, until I saw it sitting next to some modern hybrid 4x4s in the supermarket car parks! 

oldandwizend

Definitely would not consider full EV not just within 5 years but ever! 
I had one for a day whilst my ICE was in for its annual service/MOT and hated it. No soul, too expensive, too many gadgets and driver aids - if you cannot drive responsibly without 'lane assist' etc. etc. them then you should not be driving!.
I have 62 years accident and claim free driving and am now, fortunately, of an age where my existing ICE will probably outlive me if looked after properly, is not stolen or written off courtesy of a third party.

Arctos

No, it won't be in the next five years

I'm unconvinced by the green credentials of EVs. What is the source of the lithium, cobalt etc for the batteries and how advanced is recycling? My last petrol car was 23 years old before unobtainable parts killed it and the mpg was still good and emissions were good for its era. Life expectancy for an EV?
I concede that green energy [solar, and wind] are operationally clean, but the panels and turbines are mostly imported and how good is manufacturing them for the environment, let alone the horrors of destroying the countryside with solar farms, storage units and the unpleasant pylons and/or trenches? Nuclear - disposing of waste remains the big issue, it seems - so not really green.
If my present petrol car lasts 20 years it will probably see out my driving career. Like oldandwizend above, motor insurers love my no claims - only a couple of windscreen replacements in over 4 decades of driving.

Nebulous2

Other (let us know in the comments)

Not without a new house.

I had an electric car and loved it. The driving experience was great. However I live in a small town and  public charging was a disaster. 

Shortage of chargers, regularly broken, high costs. If  I had my own charger I'd have another electric car in a heartbeat.