More than 8 million people in Britain are considering buying or leasing an electric vehicle in the next 5 years, according to a new survey.
The findings by Populus on behalf of Smart Energy GB highlight the importance of smart meters to the uptake of electric vehicles.
It found:
- More than one third of drivers (34%) would be more interested in buying an electric vehicle if they have a smart meter.
- One third (33%) of drivers would be more likely to purchase an electric vehicle if they could programme it to charge automatically at home when energy is cheapest.
The survey supports a report published today by Leeds University and Smart Energy GB investigating how smart meters and smart charging mean a better experience for electric vehicle users.
The smart route to electric vehicles sets out how electric vehicles and smart meters will accelerate the UK’s transition to a more sustainable and greener economy.
With most consumers expected to want to be able to charge their electric vehicle at home, smart meters will play a critical role in making this process reliable, cheaper and greener.
The report shows that with a smart meter installed, energy suppliers can reward drivers for charging during low price periods.