Two-thirds of people expect electric cars to be referred to simply as ‘cars’ by 2030, according to new research.
The survey conducted by Go Ultra Low, the joint government and industry campaign to promote the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), found that increasing affordability and seeing more of them on our roads are the main factors driving their normalisation.
The research comes as registrations for battery electric vehicles hits a record high, with a 93.1% increase in year-to-date registrations compared with the same timeframe last year.
When asked what factors would improve the likelihood of purchasing an EV, close to half (45%) of respondents cited improved charging infrastructure.
The UK’s constantly growing network currently has more than 25,000 charge point connectors, at over 9,500 locations; with more than 500 new devices installed in the last the 30 days.
A recent government announcement committed £70 million worth of investment into the UK’s rapid charge network, increasing the size from 2,100 to over 5,000 chargers.
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Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) of those surveyed said a wider variety of models would increase their purchase consideration.
The same research found that, on average, people believed there were only 15 models available; however, there are 24 fully electric and hydrogen models and 27 plug-in hybrids available to buy, with this number set to double over the next 12 months.
“When we look at the EV market, it is clear we’re on the way towards electric mobility becoming part of everyday life for UK motorists,” said Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low.
“Electric cars are great to drive, can be very cheap to run and help improve local air quality. With, prices moving closer to that of their petrol or diesel counterparts, an expanding chargepoint network and an increasing number of models available, there has never been a better time to consider an EV as your next car.”
Meet the retro cool Nobe 100 electric vehicle – a three-wheeler billed as the “world’s most sustainable” car.
Made in Estonia, the dinky “fully upgradable EV” is also the first ever all-wheel drive three-wheeled car and the world’s first electric cabrio.
Weighing in at just 600kg (less than half the weight of the lightest MINI), it has a range of 161 miles on a single two-hour charge (192 miles with an additional suitcase-sized battery) and accelerates from 0-62mph in less than six seconds.
Now available to pre-order, all tech and hardware on the Nobe (pronounced “no-bee”) can be upgraded and every element of the car is fully recyclable. It can even be parked vertically on the side of a wall using a ‘gekko’ parking rig to further save on road space and increase security.
The brand’s target, with its new Indiegogo crowdfund, is to raise $100,000 (£79,700) through a mixture of enthusiasts ordering a discounted, personalised Nobe 100 and “conscious consumers” looking to support a cleaner future for personal transport.
The minimum investment is just $20 (£16), for which investors will have their name etched on the first full-production Nobe 100, while at the other end of the spectrum, 10 investors can secure one of the very first batch of cars on the road for $29,000 (£23,100).
That represents a 19% discount on the $35,000 (£27,900) price tag when the car becomes publicly available in 2021 – potentially sooner if Nobe reaches its target.
“Today is a unique milestone in the evolution of road travel,” said Roman Muljar, founder and CEO at Nobe.
“The Nobe 100 is the first ever all-wheel-drive, three-wheeled vehicle and is the most sustainable commercially available car on the market – but more than that, it is the most stylish. We call it ‘neo-vintage’ and the result is a car so beautiful you’ll want to lick it.”
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