High cost and lack of charging infrastructure dents thirst for electric vehicles

The high cost of electric vehicles is preventing the majority of Northern Ireland’s drivers from switching away from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

That’s according to a new survey from online comparison site CompareNI which revealed that 94% of drivers here said they wouldn’t be purchasing an electric car in 2024.

They put the high cost associated with electric car ownership and the lack of charging infrastructure as the main reasons for their reluctance. That comes despite the government’s pledge to scrap the selling of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

The average price of a petrol or diesel car is £21,964 while the cost to buy an electric car in the UK is around £49,818.

Across the UK as a whole, 84% of drivers said they wouldn’t be purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle next year, perhaps a reflection of better infrastructure in England and other regions.

Government statistics show that Northern Ireland has the lowest level of charging devices in the UK, with just 20 devices per 100,000 people. In comparison, the next lowest level was 33 devices per 100,000 people in the North West of England.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director of CompareNI.com, said drivers are still not on board with electric cars.

“We will be a year closer to the proposed changes in 2024 and yet the survey shows many drivers in Northern Ireland still aren’t considering switching to electric vehicles,” he said.

“At a time when people are continuing to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, drivers don’t want to pay significantly more money to purchase a car.

“In addition to this, accessibility to charging points across Northern Ireland is also deterring drivers from going electric. It is clear from our survey results that the government will have to do a lot more to help encourage drivers in Northern Ireland to make the switch to electric vehicles and support the proposed changes over the next decade.”

CompareNI.com's findings are based on a randomised survey of 800 respondents across Northern Ireland in November 2023, and a further 1600 people right across the UK.