In a recent survey that queried South Africans on their perceptions of new-energy vehicles, it was found that a surprising number of people would consider dating someone who drives an electric car over someone with a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The study, piloted by Ford, included 1,470 participants across Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Among the questions was one that asked respondents whether they would be more or less likely to date someone who drives an electric vehicle (EV).
In response, “almost 70% of the respondents said they would be ‘more likely’ to date someone who drove an electric vehicle,” said Ford.
One step at a time
Ford’s inquiries revealed that South Africans are relatively familiar with electrified vehicles. Most respondents classify them as “fun to drive,” “cool,” “sporty,” and even “easy to own.”
Over 70% said they’ve read up about EVs, around 30% said they’ve ridden in one, and a lower 19% said driven one themselves.
Despite being somewhat knowledgeable in the general aspects of EVs, as much as 20% of the survey respondents claimed to be concerned about the state of the power grid while 47% said they were worried about the availability of EV charging infrastructure.
According to almost three-quarters of those surveyed, possible future load-shedding in South Africa would impact their decision to choose an EV as their next set of wheels. Similarly, 70% said charging infrastructure would affect their decision to purchase a battery electric vehicle.
Service stations ranked highest as the preferred location for charging sites, followed by shopping centres and office buildings. However, almost half of the participants said they weren’t aware of any EV charging stations within 20km of their homes.
Local consumers require their EVs to be competent machines as nearly 71% said they would be “more likely” to purchase one with “greater” towing capacity, while 70% are looking for their EV vehicle to be off-road capable.
There are still concerns that an EV can’t carry as much cargo as an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, too.
Most respondents noted that they would prefer an EV for their daily commutes over a car with an internal combustion engine, and agreed they would be “more likely” to use the battery-powered model for grocery delivery services and ride-sharing.
Saving money by dodging hefty bills was rated as a top benefit of owning an EV, though many believe maintenance costs for one will amount to a higher bill over time.
A few ‘myth-conceptions’ also stand in the way of would-be EV owners pulling the trigger, one of which being that just under 40% of respondents believe charging an EV at home is as expensive as filling up petrol-powered vehicle.
“This research highlights the need for continued efforts to educate the public about electrified vehicles, address concerns about cost, range, and infrastructure, and promote the benefits of electric mobility,” said Sunil Sewmohan, Executive Director of Product Marketing at Ford South Africa.
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