• 58% of dealers say EVs are too expensive compared to petrol and diesel cars, shows November’s Startline Used Car Tracker
• 25% are concerned by their lack of onsite charging facilities
• 20% want the government’s 2030 electrification deadline extended

November’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 58% are concerned about the expense of EVs compared to petrol and diesel vehicles.

Also, 25% of dealers are troubled by their lack of onsite charging facilities, 19% simply say customers aren’t ready to accept EVs and 14% that their sales team is not trained to sell them.

When asked what would help them adapt to electrification, 61% of dealers wanted generally cheaper EVs while 38% said that longer range vehicles would be an advantage and 28% that a greater choice of electric models was needed.

Finally, 20% of dealers would like to see the government’s 2030 electrification deadline extended, while 13% would like to see training programmes for sales staff and 11% want better availability of finance options.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “The recent announcement by Ford that Fiesta production would be ending soon felt like a watershed moment in mainstream car manufacturers moving towards electrification. The question is, what low-cost EVs are forthcoming that will replace much-loved, everyday cars like the Fiesta?

“Dealers are clearly worried about the affordability of EVs, the suitability of their current premises to retail them, the ability of their sales staff to sell them and the appetite of lenders to finance them. With eight years to go until the 2030 production deadline, it feels as though the motor industry still has much to do to help dealers make the EV transition.

“Especially, it seems to us, more effort needs to be put into showing consumers that the overall running costs of used EVs are generally very much comparable with familiar petrol and diesel cars, even if the upfront purchase price is higher. This seems like a crucial point when it comes to creating market acceptance.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This month, 305 consumers and 59 dealers were questioned.