Hybrid cars 'slightly' favoured over electric

Date: 7/9/2011

Concerns about charging infrastructure may not be enough to completely sway motorists in the UK to choose a hybrid vehicle over an electric model.

Such is the conclusion of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, which conducted the research ahead of the first plug-in hybrid and range-extended cars coming to market.

According to its survey, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) claimed they would favour such a vehicle - which is supported by a combustion engine - over one that is fully dependent on battery power.

Despite concerns about the latter automobile running out of energy at a point where there is nowhere to charge it, 48 per cent of drivers say they would still be more likely to buy an electric car.

Editor of the website Faye Sunderland said: "We fully expected that motorists would express a great interest in these next-generation range-extended models as a halfway house to a fully electric model."

She added that price continues to be a factor in buying decisions, with green vehicles remaining "too expensive for many".

Yesterday (September 6th), the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association urged the manufacturers of these automobiles to consider a more realistic pricing structure.

Posted by Nick Anderson