Industry groups fight back against EV misinformation

In the latest attempt to counter the misinformation surrounding electric vehicles, Auto Trader, ChargeUK and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have come together in an attempt to educate the motorist about the benefits of EVs. 

Research conducted by Auto Trader earlier this year that revealed a large amount of erroneous information being disseminated across a variety of media sources and this was affecting the public’s confidence in electric cars.

They found that 72% of consumers had heard that electric cars were especially prone to catching fire and 44% believed that to be true.  Additionally, 33% of people spoken to believed that EVs are more expensive to run than their ICE counterparts. 

Auto Trader have also found that 46% of retailers believe that the public’s lack of consumer confidence in EVs presents a significant barrier to adoption.

On their ‘Electric cars facts and figures’ page, Auto Trader provide the answers to a variety of pertinent questions. Questions that too many people already know the wrong answer to.

• What’s electric car pricing like?
• What about the running costs of an electric car?
• Can I charge on the go?
• Will my electric vehicle’s battery last?
• What can I expect from a full charge?
• Are EVs greener?
• Do I need to worry about fire risks?

The answers to these questions can be found here.

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: ‘Zero emission vehicles will drive our journey to net zero, which is why this Government is committed to accelerating the transition. Ensuring consumers have clear, accurate information when deciding what kind of car to buy is essential. This work by industry is absolutely vital to boosting drivers’ confidence in zero emission vehicles, and I’m pleased to back it.’

Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader, commented: ‘Electrification is a significant change and with change comes uncertainty and confusion and that’s why we’re trying to help share more balanced and fact-based narratives with both retailers and consumers to give everyone confidence to navigate their electric journey.

‘Often this comes down to the fear of the unknown and this is clear when consumers tell us how much they love their electric cars. We’d encourage anyone unsure about electric vehicles to do their own research with unbiased, fact-based content – or better yet, why not find an electric car driver and chat to them. And if you haven’t driven one yet – do it, they are really changing the car game.’

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: ‘Thanks to manufacturer investment, drivers have a massive choice of EV models, and picking the right one for their needs depends on having facts, not fiction. More than a million motorists have already gone electric and been delighted by their decision, with many benefiting from lower running costs, an outstanding driving experience and a smaller carbon footprint. But making the switch can be daunting for some, given the need to consider charging as well as driving so a single source of truth can avoid any confusion. And that truth is that the time to go electric is now.’

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said: ‘ChargeUK members are rolling out the infrastructure to support the transition to Electric Vehicles. A new charge point goes in the ground every 25 minutes on average and our members are committed to spending at least £6 billion through to 2030 to ensure the infrastructure stays ahead of demand.

‘But our work involves more than just providing the infrastructure, we must challenge the myths and misconceptions that hold some drivers back from adopting EVs. Not least because the research suggests they are missing out – as per Auto Trader’s findings that more than eight in 10 electric drivers say they would never go back, and with the vast majority reporting a seamless charging experience.’

‘Clear, concise, accurate information is key to helping more people understand what’s involved in switching to an EV and why there’s no need to hold back. It’s great to see a range of organisations come together to ensure consumers have access to easily digestible facts and ChargeUK is proud to have contributed to this work.’