Electric Cars Offer Lowest Lifetime Cost Public Says

LONDON – November 23, 2010: Electric cars are winning the battle to convince motorists that they are a value-for-money proposition, according to the latest research. While there may be those who are put off by the initial high purchase cost of the first electric car models, which are now beginning to reach the UK market as we head into 2011, it seems many people are realising the money-saving potential of a battery-powered vehicle over its lifetime, a poll from leading green car guide TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk suggests.

Electric cars have been voted as having the lowest perceived lifetime costs thanks to their low ‘refuelling’ cost and tax perks, beating the typically fuel efficient diesel car into second place. Website visitors were asked; ‘Which car type do you think will typically cost you the least to run over a lifetime?’, an electric car took 29 per cent, while a diesel car followed close behind with 27 per cent and hybrid car came a disappointing third with 20 per cent of the vote*.

The results prove that consumers have confidence in electric cars that they might recoup their initial additional outlay which they would pay over the cost of a conventional, fossil-fuelled car through the lower operating costs of such a vehicle.

The news bodes well for the country’s newly emerging electric car market which will see four new electric car models on sale by early 2011 (the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Citroen C-Zero, Peugeot iON) in time for the introduction of the Plug-in Car Grants for alternatively fuelled cars.

The grants worth up to £5,000 each will further instil confidence in consumers to buy one of these vehicles, which can cost from around 2 pence in electricity to drive a mile.

Editor of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, Faye Sunderland says: “January will see electric cars start to realise their potential in this country and we fully expect that the grants available will be snapped up to allow consumers to access the low running costs and environmental appeal of electric cars.

“Businesses and private buyers will be attracted to electric cars because, among other things, they promise such low costs to recharge. It makes the kind of money we spend on diesel and petrol seem obscene by comparison, and British consumers are frankly sick of being ripped off at the petrol pumps,” she adds.