A quarter of young drivers, aged 17 to 20, believe owning a petrol car is as outdated as a landline telephone, according to a survey commissioned by E.ON Next. The study of 1,500 British young drivers revealed that more than half (55 percent) want their first car to be an electric vehicle (EV).
EV expert Robert Llewellyn commented that this generation does not assume their first car will be petrol. Instead, they are evaluating current options and making practical decisions. With an increasing variety of electric vehicles available and more affordable purchase options, coupled with the ability to charge at home, going electric is becoming the most sensible choice for many young drivers.
Cost emerged as the primary motivator for 20 percent of respondents who preferred electric cars, followed by the convenience of home charging, cited by 19 percent. One-fifth of young drivers stated they do not foresee themselves ever driving a petrol car, and nearly two-thirds anticipate that petrol and diesel cars will cease to be common within their lifetimes. Approximately 24 percent indicated they would not purchase a new petrol or diesel car, with over half (53 percent) believing they will be the last generation to routinely drive such vehicles.
Gráinne Regan, Propositions Director at E.ON Next, noted that the desire for electric vehicles among young drivers is clear. She highlighted potential savings, estimating up to £890 in the first year compared to fuel costs for petrol cars, and the low cost of overnight home charging, which can be as little as £8. These factors make EVs an increasingly accessible option for the next generation of drivers.
In contrast to their forward-looking vehicle preferences, a separate survey by Tempcover found that many Gen Z individuals express fear regarding driving. Common motoring tasks that young drivers find daunting include changing a flat tyre, parallel parking, performing hill starts, and merging onto a motorways. These anxieties are often shared on social media platforms like TikTok, where users express panic about navigating new driving situations or complex road maneuvers.