Going green has no age limit: most Brits of every generation want an EV next

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• Two thirds (66%) of Brits would want their next car to be electric, rising to 77% of Millennials and 72% of Gen Z. 
• Three quarters (76%) say the environmental impact of how they travel now influences their day-to-day choices.
• More than half (54%) would be more likely to choose a ride-hailing or taxi service if it were fully electric and low-emission, climbing to 70% of Gen Z.
• The findings land as Hive takes its eye-catching wrapped taxi to Battersea Power Station for London Climate Action Week, spotlighting the future of greener, smarter city travel.

Britain is switching on to greener motoring, as new research from Hive reveals that two thirds (66%) of Brits would want their next car to be electric, a sign that the appetite for cleaner travel now stretches well beyond younger drivers.

The research comes as Hive highlights its commitment to greener urban transport during London Climate Action Week. The eye-catching wrapped Hive Taxi has appeared at Battersea Power Station this week (21st to 28th June), showcasing the future of sustainable city travel.

While Gen Z (72%) and Millennials (77%) lead the charge, the enthusiasm runs right across the generations, with 62% of Gen X and more than half (51%) of Baby Boomers saying they’d want an EV next time they buy. When it comes to their very next vehicle, almost half (49%) of all adults say they’re likely to choose an electric model over petrol or diesel, rising to 61% of Millennials.

Tom Pakenham, Commercial Director for Hive commented: “It’s really encouraging to see how positively people of all ages are responding to greener ways of getting around. The appetite for electric vehicles is no longer just an older-generation story. It’s something families up and down the country are thinking about. As more of us look to travel more sustainably, we’re proud to support that shift, from smart home technology to EV charging, and to be part of the conversation during London Climate Action Week.”

The appetite for change is striking given how differently the generations travel today. Car ownership still climbs with age, from 55% of Gen Z to 74% of those aged 60 and over, yet it’s younger drivers who are most ready to go electric, suggesting the way Britain gets around could look very different in years to come.

For those who don’t drive, cost and convenience are the biggest factors. Among non-drivers, four in ten (42%) say cars are a financial burden and a third (36%) point to the price of insurance, while a similar number are simply happy using public transport (34%). For younger non-drivers in particular, affordability bites hardest, with a third of Gen Z citing the cost of a car (33%) or lessons (31%), and the environment is a growing consideration across the board (23%).

The shift is being driven by a growing green conscience. Three quarters (76%) of Brits say the environmental impact of how they get around now influences their everyday travel choices, a mindset shared across every age group, from 87% of Gen Z to 62% of those aged 60 and over.

And it’s not just about the cars people own. More than half (54%) say they’d be more likely to choose a ride-hailing or taxi service if it were fully electric and low-emission, jumping to 70% of Gen Z and 64% of Millennials. It’s a clear signal that cleaner options on the road could shape how the next generation chooses to travel.

Attitudes to learning are changing too. Of those yet to pass their test, 54% say they’d want to learn in an electric vehicle, climbing to 65% of Gen Z. It suggests the EV could soon become the car a whole generation grows up driving.

There’s even an appetite for the older generation to help lead the way: 52% of Brits believe over-40s should be doing more to make the switch to electric, a view held most strongly by younger adults.

To find out more about Hive and its range of smart home and energy products, including EV charging, visit hivehome.com.