- More than 23,000 EV owners across 18 countries were surveyed and the majority in India acknowledged range-related concerns.
The rise and proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) is inevitable and the popularity of such models is partly being driven by existing owners who are unwilling to go back to conventional vehicles powered mostly by engines. This is the conclusion of a global survey covering nearly 23,000 EV owners in 18 countries, including India.
Titled the Global EV Driver Survey 2024 and conducted by a grassroots non-profit network of 64 national electric vehicle driver associations called the Global EV Alliance, the survey found that 97 percent of respondents said they were 'very satisfied' with their EV . When asked if they would have to replace their existing EV one day, 92 percent said they would do so with another EV and four percent said it would be a plug-in hybrid. Only one percent said their next car would be a petrol or diesel-powered model.
Also read: Major challenges keeping Indian buyers away from EVs
Why buy an EV?
The survey also focused on the driving factors that motivated respondents to make their purchases. A large majority said that the low operating costs of EVs were a major reason for purchasing an EV, while a large number also highlighted that such vehicles are better for the environment. Other factors mentioned were interest in the new technology and the incentives offered.
Where do you charge your EV?
When asked what is the primary location for charging an EV, 72 percent of those surveyed said they use their home-charging point. Another 13 percent said they use fast chargers while seven percent said they use public parking spaces with charging options. Another seven percent said they use charging points at their work places.
What are the biggest problems with EVs?
The survey also focused on the real-time challenges of owning and driving an EV. While most said they don't see any real challenges, issues like poor coverage of fast-charging points and slow charging times were still highlighted by many others. Many people also cited range and poor charger.
Among respondents across all 18 countries, the number of people acknowledging range-related concerns was highest in India, followed by Brazil, Costa Rica and Portugal. People in Germany and Switzerland were least concerned about range.
The survey covered EV owners in: Austria, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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First publication date: 13 Dec 2024, 11:31 am IST