Environment not motivating most EV car buyers - Toyata research shows

New research commissioned by Toyota Ireland has found that 41% of drivers plan to buy either a hybrid electric or fully electric vehicle for their next car purchase.

The survey also found that 29% are opting for hybrid electric and 12% for fully electric. Just 22% plan to buy a petrol car for their next vehicle, 15% will go diesel, and 19% are unsure of their next motoring move.

The survey of 750 drivers by 3GEM found that the number of diesel cars on the road is vastly underestimated by the public.
Some 71% of people were surprised when told that 1.4 million diesel cars are still driven in Ireland.

When it comes to buying a car, the top three considerations for Irish drivers are price (60%), followed by fuel efficiency (48%) and the size of the car (32%). Surprisingly, given the current climate situation, only 14% chose environmental impact as their top consideration falling behind driving comfort (15%) engine size (16%) and appearance (22%)

For the majority of those planning to buy a hybrid electric vehicle, 58% are motivated by the lower cost of running than a diesel or petrol car, 57% say it’s better for the environment, and 43% agree they will save money on fuel and motor tax in the long run.

The top concerns about switching are price (60%), followed by the availability of charging points (47%), and range when driving long distances (44%) whilst 37% are deterred by perceived lengthy charge times.

However, the majority of these issues may well be a thing of the past thanks to Toyota’s recent news about its forthcoming next generation BEVs (battery electric vehicles) including solid-state batter technology, which is expected in 2027-2028 and will ultimately see BEV ranges boosted up to 1200km on a single charge and zero to 80% charging in just 10 minutes. top three considerations for Irish drivers are price (60%), followed by fuel efficiency (48%) and the size of the car (32%).

Surprisingly, given the current climate situation, only 14% chose environmental impact as their top consideration falling behind driving comfort (15%) engine size (16%) and appearance (22%).

For the majority of those planning to buy a hybrid electric vehicle, 58% are motivated by the lower cost of running than a diesel or petrol car, 57% say it’s better for the environment, and 43% agree they will save money on fuel and motor tax in the long run.

Zoë Bradley, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Toyota Ireland commented: “This new nationally representative survey of Irish car drivers once again underlines the pivotal role that hybrid electrics are playing in Ireland’s move to more sustainable, electrified motoring.

“We are heartened to see the majority of Irish drivers planning on making the move to an electrified model for their next car purchase and are proud to be leading the charge in developing a solution that will address the mass market concerns with full battery electric and significantly help us on our way to zero emissions motoring in the not too distant future,” she said.

Toyota says it has the largest range of hybrid electric vehicles on the market. It says the new ‘Make The Move’ campaign represents a new chapter for Toyota Ireland’s Built for a Better World brand platform.