Comment by Dr Stephen Skippon, Consumer Psychologist and Electric Vehicle Specialist, Consumer Insight Team, at Energy Systems Catapult.

In November 2020, former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. Plug-in hybrids were given a short reprieve, with their ban not being enforced until 2035. 12 years from now, the only new cars and vans available on the market will be electric or hydrogen-powered.

The question on everyone’s lips: will everyone be able to make the switch in time? It is a massive challenge. Even putting infrastructure concerns to one side, there are social considerations that need to be made.

We recently conducted research into the electric vehicle (EV) transition and its impact on those with disabilities and other vulnerabilities. People with mobility impairments identified multiple pain points in acquiring and using EVs, particularly around the prospect of using public charging points. Yet at least their challenges are clearly acknowledged. There’s a recent British Standard (PAS 1899:2022) for accessible charging, the development of which was sponsored by the U.K. government and the charity Motability and involved physically disabled people at every stage.

Our study found that many individuals with mental health issues and those with brain injuries and learning difficulties would face additional challenges when making the switch to an EV. We invited a group of individuals with high levels of anxiety to tell us what they would find difficult if they had to switch to an EV. We sought to give a voice to the seldom heard.

Challenges to EV adoption

The pain points are not immediately obvious for those without a mental health issue. Take visiting a car showroom for instance, this was flagged as a major pain point. People with social anxiety may not wish to interact with the salesperson, while their lack of knowledge about EVs may make them even less likely to engage.

A very typical response to social anxiety is to avoid situations where interaction is needed – so these people might be unable to take the first steps towards getting an EV.

Beyond the in-person interactions that an EV purchase might require, getting familiar with a new technology can have a detrimental impact on those with mental health problems. Anxious participants were concerned for example, about the implications of switching from a manual transmission to an automatic.

These perceptions could be enough to put individuals with mental health issues off buying an electric vehicle resulting in them either abandoning driving altogether or continuing to drive an old petrol or diesel vehicle.

Solutions to these challenges can be relatively straightforward and simple. Take concerns around how to use an EV charger: participants would like to see clear step-by-step instructions, designed for those with mental health issues in mind – helping to make the whole process less anxiety-inducing.

Listening to those with mental health issues

The ban on fossil fuel-powered vehicles is fast approaching and we are still a long way from being ready for the transition. In our haste to deploy charge points and encourage the uptake of EVs, we should ensure that we do not leave behind the 1 in 4 people who experience a mental health problem each year. Listening to their voices and understanding the solutions that will work for them will be key to ensuring equal access to EVs.

The research we conducted was designed to find out whether people with a common mental health issue are at risk of being left behind. The answer is simple, yes. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and focus on solutions, while there is still time to shape the transition.