Tyre giant Bridgestone will enter the UK EV charging network in the near future.
Bridgestone is adding more weight to claims that UK motorists are accelerating away from internal combustion engines, with further research suggesting that an electric vehicle revolution is rapidly approaching – due in part to soaring fuel bills.
As recent statistics revealed that more EVs were purchased in March 2022 alone than in the whole of 2019 – even as the broader market slumped – Bridgestone’s latest survey with YouGov underlined a growing appetite for the technology after 2,000 motorists were questioned.
There were 39,315 new battery electric vehicle registrations during March, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), compared to just 37,850 electric sales for the whole of 2019.
A follow-up survey commissioned by the tyre giants revealed that 67% of motorists intended to switch, and ever-increasing diesel and petrol costs have been given as a main reason.
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Of that figure, 47% want to change to an electric vehicle to save on fuel bills, while 56% are sold by the environmental benefits of EVs. In fact, the rising cost of living has also been reflected in Bridgestone’s latest research, which also revealed that 29% of motorists would car share in the future to reduce outgoings and save money. The survey did unearth some driver concerns about the EV switch, despite their appetite to make the change. Of the 2,000 respondents, 74% raised concerns at the initial cost of purchase, 66% also expressed worries about charging point infrastructure, while 29% had issues with insufficient range. |
Tesla is showing its resilience in the electric vehicle market by sustaining the number of deliveries during a period the general market has been affected by parts shortage and challenging economic conditions. However, the American EV giant is also facing significant global competition from traditional manufacturers who are venturing into the EV market as part of holding their market position. Data acquired and calculated by Finbold indicates that among leading EV manufacturers, Tesla delivered 310,048 vehicles for all models during Q1 2022. With the deliveries, Tesla accounted for 57% of the 539,863 all-electric vehicles delivered by ten leading car makers. Volkswagen ranked second with 99,100 deliveries, followed by BMW at 35,289 units. |
As a leader in mobility solutions, Bridgestone is already tackling some of the issues raised by developing its tyre technology to ensure that EVs can travel further between charges, whilst prolonging battery life. The company has also committed to install up to 3,500 new charging points across Europe over the next five years, with big plans for the UK set to be announced shortly.
