ZIPCAR UK REVEALS THE COMMON AREAS OF CONFUSION …
New research commissioned by Zipcar UK, the UK’s leading car-sharing club, reveals that whilst there has been a significant increase in the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK, many motorists still felt unsure around many ways in which the cars could be driven, impacting their adoption to EV driving.
In a poll surveying 2,000 people across the UK who had never driven an EV before, it emerged that 48 per cent of respondents who feel uncomfortable driving an EV, would like the chance to trial one.
However, in a separate poll surveying 500 EV drivers across the UK, it showed that many respondents had concerns about driving an EV before they drove one, including how many miles the car would travel before you needed to charge it (44%), what chargers you can and cannot use (42%), what to do if you run out of charge in the middle of the road (35%) and more than one in ten (13%) shockingly believed it wasn’t possible to drive an EV in the rain!
These common concerns could be eased by trialling an electric vehicle or adopting car-sharing through a car-sharing service such as Zipcar UK, so drivers can feel the unparalleled experience of driving electrically, without the pressure and expense of owning one. Like many of life’s firsts, driving an EV for the first-time is something that you never forget and will often talk about. Zipcar UK wants to recognise people’s first EV journey, by understanding their initial worries, thoughts, and concerns and to help generate the feelings of ease and joy once they realise how simple it actually was.
Driving an EV for the first time is a daunting experience, one that puts many people off trying it for the first time. But, it’s an experience like nothing else – it puts a smile on your face.
TV Personality, Sam Thompson who recently trialled one of Zipcar UK’s EV’s for the first time said: “Driving an electric car is something I’ve been wanting to try for a while, but I was quite apprehensive about it, so having the opportunity to trial one through Zipcar was a great way to give it a go.
“Joining Zipcar was a breeze. When it came to booking, and then unlocking the car, the Zipcar app was super quick and easy to use, allowing me to get on with my trip, which was so fun! While it took a minute to get used to the silence of the electric engine and the power behind the wheel, I loved how smooth it felt on the road and I couldn’t help but get excited by it all – I felt like a kid again!”
The poll commissioned by Zipcar UK surveying 500 adults who regularly drive electric vehicles also revealed that while 91 per cent admitted there have been aspects which have taken some getting used to, 29 per cent are ‘glad’ they moved over to the eco-friendly form of transport.
Additionally, while eight in 10 were initially put off a battery-powered car because they thought it couldn’t do long journeys, after driving one, 81 per cent believe EVs are the future.
Zipcar is the UK’s biggest and most popular car-sharing club, driven by a mission to change the way people think about driving in cities around the world. In 2018, Zipcar introduced their first electric cars and through the belief that electric is the future, have embraced their vision to be completely electric by 2025. With Zipcar covering the cost of charging, trialling an EV has never been easier. Find, book and unlock your electric Zipcar using the app.