New drivers favour EV as first car
A Motor Ombudsman-commissioned online YouGov study of nearly 500 existing and prospective learner drivers in Great Britain has revealed that nearly half (42%) of new drivers would prefer their first car to be fully electric (26%) or hybrid (16%).
The study showed that just a fifth (21%) of those polled would want to get behind the wheel of a petrol-only variant once they had lost their L-plates, with just six per cent of study participants saying they would opt for a diesel-engined vehicle once they passed.
The remaining 30% of those quizzed stated that they didn’t know what kind of car would be their preference once they gained independence on the road.
Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of the Motor Ombudsman, said: “With the nation’s appetite for zero emission motoring growing, and the green agenda becoming ever more prominent in the buying habits of consumers, it is interesting to see that a large proportion of existing and prospective learner drivers are set to follow suit when they get the keys to their own car.
“Since publishing our #JustPassed guide a few years ago, the automotive industry, technology, as well as the types of vehicles available to today’s buyers, have all evolved. We therefore wanted to bring the online booklet up to date to reflect the current landscape, and to provide a more comprehensive resource for individuals when looking to make a decision as to what first car to buy, and where to get it serviced.”
