Latest gasoline shortages have made a 3rd of UK motorists extra seemingly to purchase an electrical car (EV), in line with new analysis out this week. A research of two,000 UK drivers by Volkswagen Monetary Companies discovered 35 p.c of these questioned mentioned they’d be extra more likely to go electrical because of the gasoline scarcity.

The shortages of late September and early October of this yr noticed queues at petrol stations amid a panic shopping for spree after a small variety of petrol stations introduced they have been unable to get gasoline deliveries. In consequence, some petrol stations restricted the quantity clients may purchase, whereas others needed to shut pumps as a result of they ran out of gasoline.

Volkswagen Monetary Companies’ research discovered 30 p.c of 18-24-year-olds and 31 p.c of 25-34-year-olds admitted to panic-buying gasoline. Compared, simply seven p.c of 55-64-year-olds made the identical admission, as did a mere three p.c of 65-74-year-olds.

Regionally, the south-east – one of many areas hit hardest by the gasoline scarcity – noticed probably the most widespread panic shopping for, with 17 p.c confessing they’d headed to the pumps unnecessarily. That quantity fell to simply seven p.c in Scotland.

Maybe extra importantly, although, the Volkswagen Monetary Companies survey exhibits the impression of the scarcity on consumers’ intentions, with greater than a 3rd saying they’re extra more likely to go electrical after they come to alter their automotive. Equally, 32 p.c of Brits say they’re seemingly to purchase a second-hand electrical car when the time comes to alter their automotive.

“Electrical automobiles have by no means been extra standard than they’re right this moment and it’s clear from our analysis that the latest gasoline disaster has solely accelerated the surge in demand for electrical automobiles and their new applied sciences,” mentioned Rebecca Whitmore, the electrical car senior product proprietor at Volkswagen Monetary Companies UK. “Nevertheless, to satisfy the federal government’s decarbonisation targets, we’d like the take-up of EVs to be a lot increased.

“The common size of every automotive journey within the UK is fewer than 10 miles, so there’s nonetheless lots of work to be executed to change the broader public’s notion of their driving habits, as a result of an electrical automotive would slot into the typical particular person’s each day life extra seamlessly than they most likely think about. As EV expertise continues to enhance and these automobiles proceed to turn into extra inexpensive and accessible, it gained’t be too lengthy earlier than we’ve got mainstream adoption within the UK.”