Consumers happy to spend more on electric vehicles

We don’t need to tell you how much we love electric vehicles. Green Motion is committed to increasing uptake in low-emission vehicles and improving pollution levels. It simply runs through our core.

It’s for that reason we’re pleased to see news this week that consumers are willing to pay more for electric vehicles, because of the benefits that they provide to the environment.

A report has shown that one in three Brits is willing to pay more for a fully-electric car compared to an equivalent petrol or diesel model. The report by Baringa, titled ‘Is the UK ready for electric cars?’ also reveals that 68 per cent would spend more on an EV because of the environmental benefits they provide.

The report concludes that the extra amount of extra money people are willing to pay for electric vehicles is positive but isn’t enough to forge a mass uptake. Therefore the Government must ensure grants continue to be offered until prices fall closer to that of petrol and diesel models.

There are currently grants available from the government that car dealerships and manufacturers automatically pass onto the consumer in the vehicle’s price. For example, a BMW i3 is eligible for 35% of the purchase price to be covered by a grant because the vehicle emit less than 50g/km of CO2 and can travel at least 112km without any CO2 emissions at all.

Increase in alternative fuelled vehicles

The grants available to consumers are helping. As well as claiming that they would spend more on environmentally friendly vehicles, consumers are actually doing.

Car registrations of alternative fuelled vehicles are continuing to grow in the UK. The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show positive growth for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Up until May, electric car registrations in the UK have reached 23,091, an increase of 22.6 per cent on the first five months of the year previous. Hybrid registrations have too had a 17.5 per cent increase in the same time-frame, reaching 34,181 registrations this year. Overall, alternative fuelled vehicles have seen a 19.5 per cent rise this year.

Electric and hybrid hire

If you are looking to hire an electric or hybrid car on your next trip, get in touch with us today. Green Motion car rental takes its environmental policy seriously, championing best practices and attitudes to ensure that our impact on the environment is kept to a minimum.

If you would like to hire an electric, hybrid or low-emission vehicle, use our online booking system to browse the options available to you at your local branch.