• More than half of dealers (52%) say not having a charger at home is the number one consumer objection to buying an electric vehicle
• 48% say car buyers fear range is too low for their needs and 35% that the battery will degrade quickly, shows May’s Startline Used Car Tracker

Dealers report that more than half of people (52%) mention this problem, according to May’s new Startline Used Car Tracker.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “In a way, it is encouraging that this is the biggest objection facing dealers selling EVs because it is a problem that can potentially be resolved fairly easily.

“If someone has the space for a charger to be fitted, then the dealer can provide support for this to happen, perhaps by entering into a partnership with a charger supplier to offer a fitting service, with a discount being negotiated.

“Of course, if the motorist lives in a terraced house or apartment without on-street charging, things are undeniably more difficult, but even this should be solved by increased infrastructure over the next few years.”

Other issues that dealers say are mentioned by customers include range being too low for their needs (48%), EVs being too expensive compared to ICE vehicles (37%) and fears that the battery will degrade quickly (35%).

Also, almost a third (32%) say they consumers are also worried about insurance costs, 30% don’t trust the technology and 27% are worried about EVs losing a lot of their value.

Paul said: “These objections can be divided into myths and genuine issues. Battery degradation, for example, is highly unlikely to be a problem, and most EVs on sale today will still be covered by comprehensive battery warranties.

“Other doubts are more concrete. Insurance costs are undoubtedly a problem for some EV buyers at the moment, and EV values remain more volatile than ICE equivalents. These issues will only be resolved over time as the EV market further stabilises.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 303 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.