People know that electric cars are the future. With fossil fuels becoming more and more expensive – and scarcer in the world – we have to find alternative ways of powering our vehicles. Electric Cars allow us to continue driving and owning personal cars as we are used to, but with less impact on the environment.

Are Electric Cars too Expensive?

However, nearly 50% of people would not choose to buy an electric car. This is not because of any issue they have with the technology (although range anxiety is an issue). Rather, it is because they do not believe that they can afford an electric car.

A new study has found that 44% of people do not believe that they would be able to purchase an electric car, as opposed to a petrol or diesel one. The government is planning to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2032. Despite this though, 43% of respondents to the survey said that they would choose to buy a petrol car as their next vehicle.

Are Grants Generous Enough?

One reason that might explain this reticence to go electric is the government cuts to electric vehicle grants. Under the current rules, electric vehicle grants dropped from £4,500 to £1,000 – while the plug in hybrid grant has been cut entirely. These cuts are despite the growth in demand for them. Instead of rewarding people for making the switch (applications for grants increased by 543%), the government has made it less likely that people will purchase an electric car.

New electric cars are out of the budget of many people without government electric car grants. However, used electric cars are also often more expensive than used petrol or diesel cars. On Auto Trader, the average cost of a used car is around £13,000 – which rises to £19,500 for electric cars.

If the government is serious about encouraging people to move away from fossil fuel vehicles, they need to do more. Electric vehicle grants are an important part of making sure that people feel able to buy a car for the future.

Protecting Your Car

Whatever kind of car you have, looking after it properly means getting the right insurance cover. GAP Insurance makes sure that the full value of your car (even on more expensive electric models) is protected. If you have an accident or someone steals your car, your insurance will likely pay out. However, the amount they offer will likely be less than you paid. GAP Insurance makes up the difference, so that you don’t lose out.