#Environment: British motorists more eco-conscious than ever before

The UK is becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the vehicle they drive, with more than half of British motorists considering a hybrid as their next car. Admiral conducted research which showed that more than two in five drivers are concerned their car is causing damage to the environment and almost one in 20 are very concerned. Of the motorists questioned, more than half would consider a hybrid as their next car, while more than a third would consider a fully electric car.

A similar survey conducted by Admiral in 2013 revealed that less than a third of motorists with a car in their household were concerned their car was damaging the environment, while less than half said they would consider a hybrid vehicle.

The recent research suggests drivers in the north-east are most aware of green issues, with more than half of drivers concerned their car is damaging the environment, compared to less than half of drivers in London.

However, Admiral data shows that take-up of electric and hybrid cars is being led by drivers in London and the south-east, as more than half of all Admiral car insurance quotes for hybrid vehicles came from these areas in 2017.

Although hybrid cars have increased in popularity in recent year, the YouGov study indicated that many motorists remain unsure about fully-electric models. Only 34% of people would consider purchasing an electric car and 46% had ruled it out completely.

The cost of electric cars remains the biggest barrier, with 63% concerned about the price and 24% worried that costs for charging, insurance and maintenance would be extreme. 48% were concerned that charging time for electric models will be too long.

Sabine Williams, head of motors at Admiral, said: “This survey shows that green issues are really starting to affect motorists in the UK – and this promises to be a trend that only grows in coming years.

“This also echoes what we’re seeing day to day in the business – enquiries for electric and hybrid quotes have risen 1480% and 243% respectively in the past seven years.

“This growing green appetite is why we’ve launched our green driving hub and comparison tool, so motorists can find the car that’s right for the environment – but also right for them.”

Paul Clarke, who founded the website Green Car Guide, said that recent media stories about diesel emissions have made drivers think about ‘green’ issues in more detail. He said: “People are more aware of the impact that diesel emissions have on local air quality, so they are looking at alternatives, including hybrids. There is also the obvious benefit that greener cars such as hybrids typically also help motorists save money on car running costs.

“Thanks to UK and European emissions targets, I’m 100% certain that the future of cars will be green. However, we’re also now at the tipping point when motorists want to drive electric cars because, in addition to being cleaner, they’re cheaper to run and better to drive. Many people who try an electric car simply won’t go back to petrol or diesel.”

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