More than three quarters of Britons don’t fully understand what electric cars are and their benefits, according to one France’s biggest auto brands.
Peugeot says it has surveyed 2,000 UK motorists and just 23 per cent rated their understanding of electric vehicles (EVs) as ‘good’ or ‘excellent, while almost two in five said their knowledge about battery-powered cars is ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.
That’s despite the nation’s drivers facing the reality of only being able to buy a new EV from showrooms in less than seven years’ time, when the 2030 ban on sales of petrol and diesel models is implemented by government.
The mainstream French car brands says that just 23% of Britons have a good or excellent understanding of electric vehicles and their benefits
Peugeot makes popular modern day petrol and electric models, including the 208 supermini and 2008 SUV, as well as some of the most iconic cars from yesteryear, such as the 205 GTI hot hatch from the eighties and early nineties.
It says there are ‘significant gaps’ in the British public’s understanding of electric vehicles, with less than half aware that battery electric vehicles emit zero tailpipe emissions.
Yet, it appears the French brand failed to ask drivers if they knew about the environmental impact of producing the batteries used to power EVs, which is one of the biggest criticisms a large number of motorists have.
Why don’t people understand electric cars?
A surprising number of motorists who completed the poll were unaware of differences between hybrid and fully-electric cars.
Some 12 per cent believe that a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is exactly the same type of car as a battery electric vehicle, despite the former having a supplementary combustion engine and far shorter electric ranges.
There also remains confusion among the wider British driving public about how long charging EVs takes.
Less than a third of respondents said they knew that the latest electric models can be charged from zero to 80 per cent capacity in as little as 30 minutes, granted they are compatible with a 100kW rapid charging devices.
There is also plenty of misunderstanding around the public charging network, with 70 per cent of respondents saying they find the way different providers operate to be confusing.
The same percentage also finds the language surrounding power, battery capacity and efficiency difficult to understand, with only 31 per cent aware that kilowatt hours (kWh) is the unit used to measure battery capacity in EVs.
In contrast, when asked which car powertrain they have the best understanding of, 67 per cent cited petrol and diesel, compared to just 7 per cent who chose electric powertrains.
A surprising number of motorists who completed the poll were also unaware of differences between hybrid and fully-electric cars, like the Peugeot e-208 (pictured)
Clear generation gap when it comes to EV knowledge
The research also reveals that young people are more likely to think they have a strong understanding of electric vehicles, with 58 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds rating their knowledge as good or excellent.
Meanwhile, half of those over 65 rate their understanding of electric vehicles as poor or very poor.
There was also a big difference in knowledge of electric car terminology, with 46 per cent of the younger members of the panel correctly selecting ‘Miles per kWh’ as the unit commonly used to measure efficiency of EVs, compared to just 20 per cent of over 65s.
However, it’s important to note that fewer than half of younger drivers knowing that EV economy is measured in miles per kWh is very low, especially when you consider that most drivers will know that miles per gallon (mpg) is used to determine the efficiency of petrol and diesel models.
Other differences in the age groups include exactly half of 18 to 24-year-olds knowing that EV drivers often don’t have to pay for parking when charging in some UK cities, compared to just over a quarter (28 per cent) of over 65s.
Young people’s knowledge extends to other types of electric vehicles too, with 64 per cent aware that electric vans are eligible for a UK government grant – a fact known by just 26 per cent of those over 65.
Londoners know the most about EVs
Drivers’ perceived knowledge of EVs also varies across the country, Peugeot claims.
An impressive 10 per cent of Londoners rate their understanding of electric cars as excellent – the highest of any region – whereas people in the North East claim to be least knowledgeable about EVs, with 53 per cent saying their understanding is poor or very poor.
The poll also quizzed drivers across the country about clean air zones, with a relatively low volume of Londoners (79 per cent) familiar with the term Ultra Low Emission Zone – or ULEZ – despite it being introduced over four years ago and widespread coverage of plans to extend the £12.50-a-day charging zone to every borough in the capital from 29 August.
Less surprising is that only 45 per cent of people from the North East are familiar with the term ULEZ, given that many are unlikely to drive into the capital often.
Commenting on the survey findings, Adam Wood, managing director at Peugeot UK, said: ‘Our research reveals there are still gaps in the public’s understanding of electric vehicles, with many motorists unaware that EVs such as the new Peugeot e-2008 offer zero tailpipe emissions and can be charged to 80 per cent in just thirty minutes.’
Peugeot is one of the various mainstream car brands that has already set out its objectives and target dates to stop selling petrol and diesel cars.
The French maker says that by 2025 it will have a 100 per cent electric version of every car across its entire model range, and from 2030 will sell only EVs in the UK.
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