Government-enforced lockdowns are having a dramatic positive impact on people’s awareness of the benefits of reduced air pollution – with nearly half of drivers now considering a switch to electric vehicles in the future.

Nearly half (45%) of drivers are reconsidering their plans for electric vehicles due to the radical improvement on air pollution across the globe from reduced traffic

Research carried out in the UK by Venson Automotive Solutions has revealed 45% of drivers are reconsidering their plans for electric vehicles due to the radical improvement on air pollution across the globe from reduced traffic.

A further 17% said it reaffirmed the decision they had already made to make the switch to an EV.

Of the 45% of motorists who are now reassessing their EV options, 19% said their next company car or private purchase would be an EV, with the remaining 26% confirming they intend to become an EV driver in the next five years.

The results show how the lockdown has further boosted drivers’ intentions to go green; in an EV attitudes survey conducted by Venson in July 2019, 41% of people said they were considering moving to an EV, but 31% said that they wouldn’t for another 10-15 years.

The latest survey also reveals that the public would like to see more done by the UK Government – and businesses – to expedite the take up of EVs once the UK has recovered from the Covid-19 crisis.  This includes further investment in the charging infrastructure (62%), the introduction of more charging Clean Air Zones in major cities (38%) and new legislation that supports businesses to move to fully electric company car or commercial vehicle fleets in the next five years (38%).

Alison Bell, marketing director at Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “In recent years we have seen the cost of electric vehicles fall, battery efficiency increase, and the network of both public and private charging points grow significantly. All of these steps have boosted consumer confidence in an EV future, however whilst ownership is increasing, we still have a long way to go. Having said that, fleet managers looking to introduce fully electric fleets could find employees more open to the idea now they have seen the global benefits it could bring to the environment.”