The Rise In Demand For EVs Driven By The Fuel Crisis

The Rise In Demand For EVs Driven By The Fuel Crisis

Online searches for electric vehicles (EVs) went through the roof during the weekend of the fuel crisis, as retailers reported a “huge spike” in enquiries for EVs and plug-in hybrids, with motorists considering making the transition early in the wake of petrol and diesel chaos.

A shortage of HGV drivers triggered ‘no fuel’ signs across a vast majority of forecourts last weekend and seemingly drove many people to adopt EVs much earlier than they had anticipated. And rather than panic-buying fuel, many consumers were making a hasty decision to take the plunge into the EV market instead.

In some cases, of course, this will not have been a panic-driven decision, with a gathering market of motorists fully intending to make the change to EVs in the next few years, but the mounting fuel crisis brought forward their decision, or at least triggered their interest over a chaotic weekend.

Bonkers demand over the fuel crisis weekend

EVA England, a non-profit organisation representing new and prospective EV drivers, reported an increase in EV inquiries over Friday and Saturday, describing demand as “bonkers”. The founder also explained that they now had “trade-in cars with no petrol to move them.”

Meanwhile, one online vehicle retailer reported a 60% increase in EV searches over the weekend, while The Times analysed wider Google data and reported a 1600% increase in online EV searches. If that is translated into sales over the coming weeks, then the EV industry will get the shot in the arm it was perhaps expecting a few years down the line.

The Government has committed to ceasing production of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, and of plug-in hybrids by 2035. Facing up to the inevitable has been the case for many motorists, but the thought of hour-long queues and forecourt fisticuffs over the last dregs of available fuel have told many motorists that enough is enough. At the same time, EV drivers could smugly watch on as they sailed past the queues and went home to relax while the car re-charged on the drive overnight.

Although the EV market is already thriving, this was one more reason for motorists to make the change, and in some cases probably the biggest. All the major motor manufacturers now have EVs in their core range of vehicles with the Nissan Leaf, Audi e-Tron and Tesla Model 3 among the most popular cars in the UK today.

Environmental and financial benefits to EV leasing

Motorists can already see the environmental benefits of driving EVs, but they can also learn about this being a much more economical form of driving. Also, both these factors can become more attractive as the industry develops, because EV technology is being improved all the time. Likewise, the national infrastructure is becoming more established with wide-scale investment in charging stations in public places, which adds to the accessibility and convenience of driving EVs.

Pink Car Leasing can offer some amazing lease deals on EVs and plug-in hybrids, with flexible personal and business leasing deals available to perfectly match your budget and personal circumstances.

In the short term, the fuel crisis may have eased, but this latest issue has highlighted various flaws in the system and has triggered many to seek out the alternatives. In this case, EVs are undoubtedly the future anyway, and if this crisis has driven people to change earlier than planned, then there are plenty of benefits to that for everyone.