Almost half of dealers (48%) say the government’s new electric car grants will provide a “useful boost” for the electric car market.
September’s Startline Used Car Tracker also shows 43% believe anything that makes electric cars more accessible is a good idea, and 27% say that it is positive the scheme favours UK-built models.
However, 40% say lack of access to chargers is a bigger problem for electric cars than affordability and 32% that the environmental impact-based banding system used to calculate grants is too complex.
Also, 28% think knock-on effects mean the initiative could further depress electric car residual values, 25% that a similar scheme is more urgently needed to boost used electric car demand and 20% that the initiative doesn’t cover enough models.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “There’s been quite a lot of noise in the motor industry about the electric car scheme, with some complaints that it doesn’t cover more vehicles and that only a few models receive the maximum grant.
“Our research shows that around half of dealers generally see the initiative as a positive, probably in the sense that anything aiding electrification is a good thing, especially when it comes to promoting affordability.
“However, there is some quite widespread scepticism, and it is especially notable that around a quarter of our respondents think similar funding is instead needed for electric used cars, suggesting they believe prices need to fall more in that part of the market.”
