Plug-In grants 'raising interest in electric cars'

Date: 8/2/2011

The launch of the government's Plug-In Car Grants has helped to ignite interest in electric vehicles, it has been claimed.

According to TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, in the month since the £5,000 grants became available, 40 per cent of consumers have revealed that this would be enough to persuade them to invest in an electric car or another vehicle that is eligible under the scheme.

Editor of the website Faye Sunderland explained that the reason why the other 60 per cent of consumers may not be considering investing in a greener vehicle could be a fear of the unknown, along with concerns that they are unsure how it works or how they will adapt to it.

As a result, she suggested that electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers invite drivers to come and try out their models.

"However, the environmental credentials of EVs won't be enough for motorists, it will be the potential savings in running costs which will convince many people to make that final leap of faith and buy an electric car," Ms Sunderland claimed.

Neil Wallis, Head of Communications at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, recently said that while EVs will become more popular this year, consumers may still be deterred by their high price.

Posted by Nick Anderson