EV-Box’s survey of over 850 electric drivers shows that 85% are happy having switched to electric driving. While insufficient charging infrastructure is raised as a concern by most (55%) of the EV drivers.

The main reason to initially purchase electric vehicles turns out to be a contribution to a more sustainable future (51%), although we still believe the “EV grin”, the smooth driving experience and advanced technology is something that will win over consumers in the long run.

Also interesting to note, is that 55% of those surveyed say they have never used a public DC fast charging station. Further to that, some 56% indicate that retail areas are the top locations to add charging facilities.

“A survey of over 850 electric drivers based in Europe and North America, as well as a “Manifesto for Electric Mobility”, was released publicly during rEVolution 2017, an annual gathering for e-mobility thought leaders that brought together 240 industry participants on the 14th of March in Amsterdam.

The e-mobility manifesto was created by a group of 12 thought leaders from EV-Box, ENGIE, EVConsult, Renault, Jaguar Land-Rover, E-Laad, The Municipality of Amsterdam, Urban Foresight, and Fastned, all of whom shared their vision on the future of e-mobility and what drivers, businesses, associations, and government can do to increase adoption of electric cars as well as improve the experience for the user.

Amongst many insights and recommendations, the manifesto clearly states that to increase the pace of transition towards sustainable mobility for electric vehicles, the following has to happen:

• For the general e-mobility stakeholders: To cooperate and implement interoperability between different countries and EV charging providers;
• For the charging providers and operators: To enable direct and mobile payments. Drivers should be able to pay for any charging session with any method, hassle-free;
• For the semi-public charging facilities: To empower and support the expected rise of electric vehicle adoption by installing smart charging infrastructure at their parking sites;
• For the automotive manufacturers: Create new services that allow drivers to charge their car in an easier way, and begin producing new batteries that can be charged faster
• For the Governments: To assist the charging providers in standardizing their services and products by implementing more public charging stations, and create or continue financial incentives to motivate their citizens to acquire an electric vehicle.

The full manifesto has been shared publicly and can be accessed at www.ev-box.com/manifesto.

As per the survey, the insights are shared in the manifesto as well; the most notable findings are as follows:

• 51% of electric drivers say that contributing to a sustainable future is the main reason to purchase an electric car
• 55% of electric drivers are unhappy with the current availability of charging points
  47% of electric drivers want to have online connectivity on their home charging station to track and bill their charging sessions
• 42% of electric drivers say that the main incentive to buy a charging station is to charge faster
• 55% of electric drivers have never used a public fast (DC) charging station
• 56% of all electric drivers rank retail areas as the top location to add charging facilities

The survey was answered by electric vehicle drivers, with the majority of respondent’s male (91%) and above 45 years old (58%). The respondents come from The Netherlands (40%), United States (35%) and 32 other European and North American countries, including United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Germany.”

Source: Inside EVs