Government incentives fail to impress drivers

More than two-thirds of Britain's car buyers admit the government incentives are not enough to persuade them to buy an electric car.

According to a recent survey of 500 people by Parkers.co.uk, 69 per cent said they wouldn't buy and electric car and 32 per cent of these respondents cited the main reason being the limited distance the cars can travel. At present, the furthest an electric car travels is 100 miles.

Motorists are also concerned at how long it would take to pay off the extra cost involved with buying an electric car, in comparison to the reasonable costs involved in running an efficient diesel car.

Results indicated that 18 per cent of respondents wouldn't buy an electric vehicle, because they don't believe they are actually 'green,' whilst another 17 per cent say conventional cars are simply better.

Surprisingly the lack of charging stations around the county does not appear to be a reason to not purchase an electric car, with just six per cent of people saying this would put them off.

Kieran Puffer Editor of the Parkers website, told The Telegraph: "This result of the poll may be surprising to many given the recent pledge by the Government to subsidise electric cars, however for many the inconvenience of having a limited range of only 100 miles on a car is too great a factor to ignore.''

"The Government's attempts to encourage people to buy electric cars are a good start but they don't go far enough," he added.

James Patrick, Kingsbridge, LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

Andrew Wilkinson, Evesham, VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLE