Mind the electric gap: Women excluded from EV transition
Urgent action is needed to reduce a widening gender gap in the electric car market as we approach the Government deadline for the ban on selling new petrol and diesel engines in 2030.
That is the rallying call from Auto Trader, who today released their No driver left behind: women and the journey to electric report revealing that women are buying less Electric vehicles (EVs) than men due to mistargeted marketing, despite 48% of driving licences being held by women who have more disposable wealth and independence than ever.
The majority of EV marketing is currently focused on technology, despite just 12% of women saying that they prioritise this when buying a car. Instead, Auto Trader say the focus should be on safety, an area that 65% of female drivers thinking safety is most important to their purchase.
Discussing her electric concerns, Kirsten Snelling, 34 from Falconwood said: “I know charging at home is easy but if anything goes wrong there could be big consequences, especially when travelling with kids. It already feels like, more often than not, it's the woman of the household that carries the mental load for the family, and this is just another thing to remember that I know will fall to me.”
This lack of marketing has led to women feeling misinformed about the practicalities of purchasing an EV. For example, research shared within the report showed that a quarter of women (25%) thought that electric vehicles were more expensive to run than petrol or diesel cars. Yet, as of April 2023, electric vehicles were on average £86 cheaper per 1,000 miles to run than petrol or diesel cars.
This is just one area where the report highlights that a lack of targeted information has resulted in a prospective disinterest in EVs for women. The report also identifies that women report higher knowledge gaps around EVs with three of the most prevalent knowledge gaps highlighted as how they drive, how long they take to charge and their eco credentials.
The report highlights a need for more EV promotion on social media and via friends and family to reach women. The Digital Marketing Institute found that 86% of women use social media for purchasing advice, yet the majority of EV promotion is currently in car magazines and newspapers. Additionally, when asked about where they do their car research, women (41%) were far more likely to select family/friend recommendation than men (29%).
Auto Trader is calling for a tailored approach, so women are targeted where they’re already shopping and alleviate their perceived fears about EV’s. This includes focusing on showcasing EVs in a variety of spaces, reducing fear and eliminating risk and leveraging social proof.
To counteract this, Auto Trader is pushing for more women to test drive EV’s as well as working with Hive from British Gas to provide a simplified home charging solution and educate prospective drivers on perceived risk of charging issues vs actual.
Solutions of how retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and the media can engage women with electric cars
Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader, the UK’s largest online marketplace said: “You'd be forgiven for assuming the advent of electric cars (EVs), with their more lifestyle-oriented stories around sustainable materials, enhanced services and carbon footprints, would fundamentally change women’s relationship with cars for the better. And yet, as our new data shows, the gender gap is widening...
“Addressing the issues raised in this report should help a large chunk of UK drivers to feel confident enough to take that leap. Without action, adoption will falter. And more and more drivers will get left behind. Faltering adoption is not good for the UK automotive industry but it’s also not good for the environment, public health or social equality.”
Kim Royds, EV Director at British Gas commented on the report:
“It’s clear charging concerns are pervasive for all drivers when considering EV ownership, but this research has uncovered concrete areas where women experience these barriers in specific ways.”
“At-home chargers are a vital part of the electrification process and the report highlights the need to educate the public on the cost-savings and simplicity of at-home charging installation in inclusive ways. For example, we are sharing our simple three-step process to help break down any complexities or misconceptions. In the coming weeks, we’re also looking forward to launching our latest EV charger, which will help users save money.”
Key barriers to engaging women with EV’s
To view the full No driver left behind: women and the journey to electric report please visit – www.nodriverleftbehind.co.uk
The research citied in the report came from a variety of different sources. Lead studies include Auto Trader’s ‘No Driver Left Behind’ survey: a nationally representative survey with 4,000 respondents conducted in April 2023 and the Barriers to EV adoption, with a focus on women. Research findings which was commissioned by Auto Trader and backed Hive from British Gas and carried out by KSBR in February 2023.
About Auto Trader
Auto Trader Group plc is the UK's largest automotive marketplace. It listed on the London Stock Exchange in March 2015 and is a member of the FTSE 100 Index.
Auto Trader’s purpose is Driving Change Together. Responsibly. With the largest number of car buyers and the largest choice of trusted stock, Auto Trader’s marketplace sits at the heart of the UK car buying process. That marketplace is built on an industry-leading technology and data platform, which is increasingly used across the automotive industry. Auto Trader is continuing to bring more of the car buying journey online, creating an improved buying experience, whilst enabling all its retailer partners to sell vehicles online.
Auto Trader is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, it aims to build stronger partnerships with its customers and use its voice and influence to drive more environmentally friendly vehicle choices.
Auto Trader publishes a monthly used car Retail Price Index which is based on daily pricing analysis of circa 900,000 vehicles. This data is used by the Bank of England to feed the broader UK economic indicators.
For more information, please visit: www.plc.autotrader.co.uk
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