The country has yet to get to grips with the latest car innovations – and some of the myths we have about electric cars are really bizarre
Brits have some weird and wonderful misconceptions about electric cars – including a belief they can’t be driven through puddles, it has emerged.
It also emerged others don’t think they can be used in the rain at all.
One in 20 even believe electric cars are fundamentally less safe, and nearly one in five believe an electric car will slow down as the battery depletes.
The poll of 2,000 drivers also found some even worry about electric cars being TOO QUIET – as pedestrians may not hear them approaching.
VW e-Golf (Image: Volkswagen.co.uk)
The research was commissioned by Volkswagen, whose spokesperson said: “Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream, but it seems many people still have lots of unanswered questions about them.
“Despite overwhelming evidence showing them to be beneficial on environmental grounds, some motorists still have concerns over safety, battery life and charging issues.
“Clearly it’s the job of us in the automotive industry to answer these questions, get the correct information out there and make electric vehicles a viable option for people buying new cars in the next few years.”
The study also found Brits have numerous questions they’d ask a car dealer when considering buying an electric car.
Top of the list would simply be ‘How quickly do they charge up?’ followed by ‘How quickly do they run out of charge?’
Fifty-two per cent of drivers would also like to know how much it costs to fill the ‘tank’ with electricity from a charge point.
And one in 20 would even query whether they’d need to drive wearing rubber-soled shoes to prevent electrocution.
Nearly six in 10 Brits would like to own an electric car someday, and would even consider one as their next vehicle.
A third of the population also believe that by the year 2025 most people will drive electric cars, leaving fossil fuels in the past.
Read more: Mirror