Majority of drivers still can't afford EVs despite the arrival of cheaper models

Majority of drivers still can't afford EVs despite the arrival of cheaper models Median retail price of a new fully electric car is 31% higher than a new petrol Is the popularity of hybrids now derailing the switch to EVs? Data suggests so By Rob Hull Updated: 00:01 BST, 19 September 2024 e-mail View comments High prices remain one of the biggest hurdles for electric car ownership, with the majority of drivers saying they simply can't afford to switch to an EV. Two thirds of car buyers told Auto Trader they intend to spend no more than £20,000 on their next vehicle - a budget which puts most new battery models far out of reach. According to its latest report, the median retail price of a new fully electric car is £51,000, some 31 per cent higher than a new petrol or diesel model.

However, more affordable EVs are in the pipeline, starting this year with the launch of the sub-£15,000 Dacia Spring. A new industry report from Auto Trader has found that electric cars are still too expensive for most Britons. This is seeing more people turn to hybrids, which is derailing the switch to EVs In its Road to 2035 report published Thursday, Auto Trader called on government to go further to support sales of EVs amid 'lingering consumer fears over affordability'.



Its poll of 3,035 drivers found that 87 per cent are not willing to pay more for an electric car than they would for an equivalent petrol or diesel model - and given the big gulf in costs across fuel types, price parity could be years away. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next EV batteries should last 20 years or more - and that's..

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. Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to save money on car insurance: Ten top tips to cut the cost in just a few minutes Of those with a budget of £20,000 to spend on their next motor, half are considering a petrol car while 38 per cent are searching for a hybrid. Only 8 per cent are looking to buy an EV.

This is partly due to a lack of affordable options of new EVs on the market. In fact, there are currently just 16 electric models on sale with a starting price under £30,000. However, Dacia's Spring - due to arrive with customers in Britain before the end of the year - is sparking a new generation of budget-friendly EVs.

Britain's cheapest electric car, the Dacia Spring, cost from just £14,995 and is set to shake up the electric market, paving the way for actually affordable EVs Citroen's new EV: The French car firm has unveiled its e-C3, which is due in UK showrooms in 2024 with a starting price of £21,990, pinning it head-to-head with Chinese rivals Affordable small EVs on the way: The Hyundai Inster (left) will arrive early next year for around £22,000. The electric Volkswagen ID.2 (ID.

2all concept pictured right) is expected to go on sale in 2026, also for less than £22k Vauxhall last month confirmed the price of its new Frontera EV, starting from £23,495. Interestingly, it is also selling a petrol-hybrid version for the same price. As such, this is the first model launched in Britain with EV-petrol price parity The arrival of the £14,995 Dacia will shortly be followed by a raft of other budget-friendly motors produced by mainstream brands, not cheap Chinese alternatives.

This includes the new £21,990 Citroen e-C3 , which also arrives later this year. And next spring, customers will be able to get their hands on the sub-£22,000 Hyundai Inster , and a year later the Volkswagen ID.2 is due at a near-£20k price point .

Interestingly, one brand has just started to sell a new EV that has price parity with its petrol-powered sibling. Read More Drivers can get a brand new Dacia Spring EV for £158 per month with its new financing deal Vauxhall last month confirmed the new Frontera EV has gone on sale for £23,495 - the same price as the Frontera with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain . However, Vauxhall said it will be making a much smaller profit on sales of the fully electric versions.

According to the latest industry sales figures, EV registrations are 10.5 per cent above where they were at the end of August a year ago. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says 213,544 EVs have been registered in the first eight months of the year and represent 17.

2 per cent of the new car market in 2024. However, fewer than one in five of these are bought by private motorists, with fleets representing the majority of new EV sales. In contrast, demand for hybrids is accelerating much faster with 270,906 bought in 2024 so far, representing more than one in five (21.

9 per cent) new cars entering the road. Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) registrations are up 24.9 per cent year-on-year, while conventional, self-charging, hybrids (HEV) are up 17.

9 per cent on 2023 sales, official data shows. Official UK new car sales figures show that hybrids make up over a fifth (21.9%) of all new registrations in 2024, while EVs represent only 17.

2% of the market. What's more, both plug-in and conventional hybrid demand is accelerating faster than electric Is growing popularity for hybrids derailing EV demand? The Government's recent confirmation that the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars will not include hybrids is expected to trigger yet more interest in these vehicles. The Department for Transport confirmed that some hybrid models will be allowed to remain in showrooms until 2035 - though it hasn't yet clarified which ones will be exempt from the ban.

Auto Trader's report says the government's leniency on the future of hybrids comes when there's already a high interest in the fuel type - and this is playing a part in derailing the switch to EVs. Last month, demand for hybrids cars on its website was a third (33 per cent) higher than it was in 2023 as drivers explore all options available for lower emission vehicles. The DfT has confirmed that some new hybrid cars can remain on sale 5 years after new petrol and diesel models are banned from showrooms in 2030.

This is likely to make hybrids even more appealing to motorists in the UK This is despite Auto Trader's research showing that hybrids are also pricier than their conventional petrol and diesel counterparts. There are currently no plug-in hybrids on the market for under £30,000. In fact, the median retail price for a PHEV is approximately £8,000 higher than for an EV.

It suggests more drivers are willing to pay a premium for hybrid technology and the failsafe of it having a petrol engine than they are opting purely for battery power. Read More Hybrid cars to remain on sale for five more years after 2030 petrol and diesel ban A separate poll of 11,000 UK drivers also found that motorists are far more likely to consider a hybrid car over a fully electric vehicle. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of drivers surveyed by AA Cars said they are considering buying a hybrid vehicle next, compared to just 7 per cent who intend to go down the EV route.

This could become a major problem for car manufacturers who are mandated to sell an increasing share of EVs each year until 2035 . The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires mainstream brands to have a minimum 22 per cent sales share made up of EVs, rising to 28 per cent next year and 80 per cent by the time we reach the end of the decade. Failing to adhere to these targets can result in fines for brands of up to £15,000 per car below the required annual thresholds.

The growing popularity of hybrid cars could become a barrier for manufacturers to meet binding EV sales targets set out by the Government in the ZEV mandate. Failing to adhere to the annual quota of electric vehicle registrations can land brands with hefty fines 'Most consumers say they are unwilling to pay more to go electric, which is a real concern for the transition,' explains Ian Plummer, Auto Trader's commercial director. 'The rising interest in hybrids is encouraging as drivers look for reassurance, but they’re not going to solve the affordability challenge.

' He added: 'Labour has talked a lot about tough choices ahead of next month’s Budget. 'But if it is serious about the mass adoption of EVs, the Chancellor must not just protect the current tax incentives on offer but expand them to accelerate new and used EV demand to ensure it remains on track with government targets.' Share or comment on this article: Majority of drivers still can't afford EVs despite the arrival of cheaper models e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links.

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