Electric Vehicles UK set up "educate consumers about EVs"
Wed 11 September 2024
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A new cross-industry initiative has been set up to counter misinformation and educate consumers about all aspects of owning an electric vehicle. Fully Charged Show/Everything Electric partnered with Octopus Electric Vehicles to launch the initiative at Octopus's London headquarters at an event attended by 120 industry stakeholders.
Sales of pure EVs have plateaued as a percentage of new sales in the UK over the last 12 months. Interim CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, Dan Caesar, said this is a result of government messaging and a rise of online misinformation which has caused drivers to hesitate in making the switch.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show 37,741 new pure electric cars were registered for private buyers in the first seven months of 2024. That represented a 9.5% reduction compared with the same period in 2023, despite the overall new car market increasing by 5.5%.
The launch was introduced by Octopus Energy Group Founder Greg Jackson who urged the industry to help drivers discover the very clear advantages of EVs.
Interim CEO Dan Caesar will spearhead the initiative for the first year, after which a full-time CEO will be appointed.
Dan Caesar said: “Electric vehicles have become something of a lightning rod for headline writers, guaranteeing as they do, a significant number of hits. Through multiple surveys on the subject, we know that 9 out of 10 battery EV drivers won’t go back to combustion engine vehicles.
“Meanwhile, almost 50% of ICE drivers are considering switching to electric, so there’s a clear disconnect between the headlines and lived experience. By uniting under the ‘Electric Vehicles UK’ brand we believe we can be much more effective in communicating information and factual evidence of the good, and the bad, aspects of EV ownership.”
Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles: “As the UK’s largest electric-only leasing company, we see first hand how much drivers love these cars. They’re cheaper to run, packed with the latest tech and great fun to drive. But we know that misinformation, or a lack of clarity at least, is holding some potential buyers back. We are proud to be the lead partner for ‘Electric Vehicles UK’, and to enable the industry to better communicate the benefits of electric car ownership.”
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