A recent online poll by Opinion Matters commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman shows that with pump prices continuing to increase on an almost weekly basis and reaching record highs, nearly half of UK car owners (48%) are increasingly concerned about owning a purely petrol or diesel-powered vehicle, making the purchase of a battery electric vehicle far more likely when it’s time to changing their car.
With the cost of filling up an average family car with a 55-litre fuel tank recently reaching £100 for the first time, the price of petrol has now surpassed £8-a-gallon, a figure not seen before in the UK.
Over 2,000 UK car owners were surveyed, which revealed that drivers aged between 16 to 24 (64%), and those living in Greater London (65%) are the most worried about petrol or diesel vehicles. In addition, the survey discovered that nationally, a similar proportion of male and female drivers (46% and 49% respectively) are apprehensive about owning a petrol or diesel vehicle given the current soaring pump prices on garage forecourts.
A quarter of male drivers out of those respondents who stated they were concerned about owning a petrol or diesel car and favoured a move to electric when buying their next vehicle, estimated that they would more than likely purchase an electric car within two to three months.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, those respondents aged 16 to 24 were the fastest to make the swap to electric out of any other age group, with 33% saying that a change could be on the cards within just eight to twelve weeks.
These latest findings have been published by The Motor Ombudsman to mark the launch of its new online electric vehicle (EV) Resource Hub called “TMO EVolVE”. The new portal, which can be accessed via the Electric Vehicles tab at the top of every page of The Motor Ombudsman’s website has been designed to bring together the body’s EV-related content in one easy-to-navigate area.
Not only will you find the latest EV news from The Motor Ombudsman but also direct access to the body’s dedicated Knowledge Base questions and answers on electric cars, as well as case studies, webinar recordings and infographics highlighting the principal sources of disputes brought to The Motor Ombudsman by consumers in relation to EV purchases and ownership.
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of the Motor Ombudsman, said:
“With fuel costs at unprecedented levels, and the likelihood of further increases coming, as we approach the height of summer, it is clear from our survey findings that the prospect of electric vehicle ownership is becoming increasingly attractive.
“In light of the rising appetite for EVs, and a growing parc on UK roads, it was a logical decision to bring together our electric vehicle-related information and resources for consumers and businesses on to a standalone hub. TMO EVolVE has therefore been created to provide an easy-to-navigate user experience, offering the ability to view EV information from across our website in one single area, all at the click of a button.”
For more information on The Motor Ombudsman, please visit www.themotorombudsman.org.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers, professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of The Motor Ombudsman
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