Latest Shell research shows EV driver demands are becoming clearer
Shell’s latest research found that the pace of EV adoption is accelerating with drivers now more confident in vehicle range. The demands of EV drivers are also becoming clearer opening up a wealth of untapped opportunities for retailers.
Shell’s annual EV Driver Survey offers unrivalled insight into the shifting attitudes of EV drivers across Europe. The report aims to uncover the top trends and opportunities impacting the EV ownership and charging experience and is based on the views of 25,000 EV drivers in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
According to the report, two fifths (42%) of the respondents have purchased an EV within the last year and over two thirds (67%) within the last two years. This growth is dominated by the new EV vehicle market, with 87% of current EV drivers buying their vehicle in new condition (the equivalent figure for all vehicles in Europe is just 27%).
Promisingly, the data shows that real-world EV experience, technology advances and growth in charging infrastructure are having a positive impact on driver attitudes:
Only 14% of EV drivers say they refrain from taking longer journeys;
The number of respondents that are travelling to other European countries by EV, and having a good charging experience, has increased by 5 percentage points, while reluctance to drive abroad because of charging or range concerns is down 7 percentage points and 5 percentage points respectively;
Drivers are becoming more relaxed about when EVs are charged, with 47% of respondents saying that they do not need to charge daily.
Florian Glattes, Vice President, E-Mobility Solutions at Shell, said: “The EV adoption growth curve is clear from the data, and it is encouraging to see that many of these drivers are feeling positive about the experience. However, if we are to continue accelerating at pace then industry must listen to the needs of drivers and work together to effectively continue removing barriers into entry and further enhance the customer experience.”
