93% of dealers say electric car market is at “tipping point”

• 93% of dealers say the used electric car market is close to a tipping point, with motorists much more interested in going electric

• 53% believe buyers are becoming more comfortable with electric cars and 51% they are becoming just another car in stock

• Only 3% say a significant proportion of buyers are still resisting electric cars, August’s new Startline Used Car Tracker shows 

More than nine out of 10 dealers (93%) say the used electric car market is close to a tipping point, with motorists now much more interested in going electric.         

August’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 53% think buyers are much more comfortable with electric cars and 51% that they are becoming just another car in stock.

Also, 41% report that interest from buyers in electric cars is becoming much more serious than in the past. 

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “We asked this question following the publication of a paper from the University of Exeter showing the electric car market was near to a tipping point. Simply, we wanted to see whether dealers agreed with the academics – and the response was overwhelmingly positive. 

“It perhaps isn’t a surprise to see a majority of dealers believe a pivotal moment for electric cars is approaching but the very high degree of backing for this idea is something of a shock. Essentially, our data shows electrification is very close to being an accepted fact of the used car market.            

Few dealers disagreed with the tipping point analysis, with just 3% reporting in the Startline Used Car Tracker that a significant proportion of buyers are resisting used electric cars.          

“One thing we have noticed in the last year is that most of the dealers we work with now have at least some electric cars in stock. To an extent, this is a necessity because of current shortages for some age profiles of vehicle, but it also means these models are becoming just a normal, everyday fact of the motor industry.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean that some very real issues don’t remain – a lot of work remains to be done on the charging infrastructure, especially for those living in terraced houses and apartments – but there is now a sense of genuine momentum.”