• Admiral data shows demand for hybrid or electric car insurance cover has risen 243% in last 6 years so more Eco conscious
• Enquiries for electric car quotes have risen 1480%
In addition, Research shows that 46% of drivers are “concerned”. Why? They know their vehicle causes damage to the environment. The number has skyrocketed to just 29% in 2013. Furthermore, 53% will consider a hybrid as their next car. That’s up 9% from 2013.
However, Cost and range anxiety remains the biggest barrier to drivers considering electric cars.
More importantly, Senior Managers are most likely to drive hybrid and electric cars.
More than half of British motorists would consider a hybrid or electric car. That’s as of their next car. As the UK becomes increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the vehicle they drive.
Research conducted by car insurance expert Admiral showed that more than 2 in 5 drivers (46%) concerned their car is doing damage to the environment, while almost 1 in ten (9%) are very concerned.
More than half of motorists (53%) would consider a hybrid. Best part! of the Stat is a third (34%) would consider a fully electric option.
More importsntly, Admiral in 2013, less than a third (29%) of motorists with a car concerned their car was damaging the environment. Then as well, just 44% said that they would consider a hybrid vehicle.
According to the recent research, drivers in the North East are most aware of green issues, with more than half (55%) concerned their car is damaging the environment, compared to just 40% in London.
However, Admiral data shows that drivers in London and the South East are actually leading take-up of electric and hybrid cars. In 2017, 57% of all Admiral car insurance quotes for hybrid vehicles came from these areas.
Leading the charge for electric and hybrid cars were senior professionals (16% of all hybrid quotes) and retirees (8.5%) – demonstrating that owning eco-friendly cars does go hand in hand with more disposable income.
Research showed that young people are the most likely to want a hybrid car, as 62% of 18-24s would consider one for their next vehicle, compared to 48% of those aged 55+.
Admiral’s Green Comparison Tool, which as part of the campaign, allows motorists to compare their current car with a new model and see which gives best value for money and performs best on environmental measures.
While hybrid cars have become more popular in recent years, the YouGov study suggested that many motorists remain unconvinced about fully electric models. 34% of people would consider an electric car as their next car, and nearly half (46%) had ruled it out.
So it seems Cost remains the biggest barrier for electric cars. With 63% concerned about the price and 24% worried. They are worried that third-party costs such as charging, insurance and maintenance would be too high. Almost half (48%) concerned that electrics take too long to charge.
Which of the following do you think would be barriers to you. What’s stopping you from buying an electric car?
Barriers
%
- They are too expensive to buy
63%
- They take too long to charge
48%
- There are not a lot of options of electric cars available
34%
- Third party costs are high (e.g. to charge/ keep up the car, insurance etc.)
24%
- They are not powerful enough
20%
- Not applicable – there are no barriers in particular that would stop me from buying an electric car
6%
- Don’t know
5%
- I would worry about being judged by my peers
1%
Sabine Williams, head of motor at Admiral, said:
“This survey shows that green issues are really starting to affect motorists in the UK – and this promises a trend that only grows in coming years.
“This also echoes what we’re seeing day-to-day in the business – enquiries for electric and hybrid quotes have risen 1480% and 243% respectively in the last 7 years.
“This growing green appetite is why we’ve launched our green driving hub and comparison tool, so motorists can find the car that’s right for the environment – but also right for them.”
Paul Clarke, who founded the website Green Car Guide, said that recent media stories about diesel emissions have made drivers think about ‘green’ issues in more detail. He said:
“People are more aware of the impact that diesel emissions have on local air quality, so they are looking at alternatives, including hybrids. There is also the obvious benefit that greener cars such as hybrids typically also help motorists save money on car running costs.
“Thanks to UK and European emissions targets, I’m 100% certain that the future of cars will be green. However, we’re also now at the tipping point when motorists want to drive electric cars because, as well as being cleaner, they’re cheaper to run and better to drive.
Many people who try an electric car simply won’t go back to petrol or diesel.”
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
2018: Total sample size was 2,077 adults of which 1,615 presently hold a valid driving licence. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th – 21st March 2018. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
2013: Total sample size was 4,149 adults of which 3,120 presently hold a valid driving licence and have a car in household. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd – 24th May 2013. The figures are weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
The surveys carried out online.
Source: Admiral
Admiral also offers other insurance products including home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance and learner driver insurance. In 2017 it launched Admiral Loans. Admiral was also voted the UK’s Best Car Insurance Provider at the 2017/18 Personal Finance Awards and the Admiral Group employs over 6,500 people in the UK and has over 4.6 million UK customers.
