They Don't Buy Electric Cars Because They Don't Understand How They Work

British edition of What Car? surveyed 9,000 people to find out what circumstances keep motorists from buying electric cars. It turned out that the average car owner understands the structure of electric vehicles approximately one and a half times worsethan the design of a car with an internal combustion engine.

• On average, respondents rated their understanding of technologies used in electric cars at 2.7 points out of five, while in the case of gasoline and diesel cars, this indicator was 3.8 points.
• The researchers also asked motorists to familiarize themselves with the specifics of the device of electric vehicles on their own. As a result, the "understanding index" rose to 3.4 points in just 10 days, but it took about three months to bring the results to the level of knowledge of conventional cars.
• The respondents were also asked questions about the perceived difficulties that will entail buying an electric vehicle. About 40 percent of those surveyed said they were being held back by price, followed by too little power reserve (28 percent).

• The limited choice in the electric car segment was cited as the main reason by 16 percent of respondents, and another 15 percent cited the high cost of owning an electric vehicle.

• The study authors concluded that in addition to developing new electric models, automakers need to educate potential buyers.