In a fresh blow to the market for used electric vehicles, just 3% of potential purchasers say they have confidence in buying a used model.
Research from the AA and Electrifying.com reveal that concerns about battery life are a major barrier, with more than a third (38%) saying a ‘formalised’ battery health certificate would give them more confidence.
There is also a significant gap between perception and reality when it comes to EV batteries. Just 2% of drivers believe a battery typically lasts longer than a petrol or diesel engine, despite growing real-world evidence that modern EV batteries often outlast their combustion equivalents.
An updated battery health data from Geotab, published earlier this month, suggested that EV batteries continue to perform strongly through their operational lifespan, even as fast charging becomes more common.
AA president Edmund King said its research showed that drivers need convincing on battery longevity before buying used EVs. However, he believes used buyers should be reassured that the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires manufacturers to provide an eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty, which will cover most used EVs.
Almost half (44%) of drivers say incentives towards the purchase of a used EV, such as the interest-free loan funded by Transport Scotland, would make them more likely to buy one.
Scotland operates a government-backed interest-free loan scheme for EVs, delivered by the Energy Saving Trust for Transport Scotland.
Since launching in 2011, it has provided more than £230 million in interest-free loans.
