According to a recent survey by Audi Abu Dhabi, rising fuel prices have led to a significant shift (52 percent) in UAE residents’ attitude towards hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs).
Petrol prices in the UAE continued to progressively rise from February to April, as global oil prices surged beyond $100 a barrel.
While residents’ intent to buy an EV seems strong, nearly 25 percent stated that they are waiting for more options to be launched in the market to make a purchase.
According to the report, “14 percent said they recently bought a petrol car but wished they would have purchased a hybrid/ EV instead.”
The YouGov survey of 1000 UAE residents explored how the rise in fuel prices is impacting the way consumers are thinking about their means of transportation.
Mark Austin General Manager Audi Abu Dhabi
“Interest in EVs has continued to grow organically over time, however increasing petrol prices has certainly accelerated the shift in consumers attitude towards EV adoption. When considering energy efficiency across the full lifecycle of producing, transporting, and using fuel – typically referred to as “well to wheel” – electric vehicles offer high efficiency and the lowest carbon emissions per mile. Depending on the type of car you drive, the average cost of filling a fuel tank can be upwards of $73.51 (AED270) versus $2.25 (AED8.25) to fully charge an EV battery with a 110 kWh charger. With EVs, owners also save on operating expenses.”
Residents are planning their car journeys more carefully with a quarter saying they use public transport a lot more now, while 14 percent of drivers have purchased an electric scooter or bike to use over short distances.
Remote and flexible working options are also helping residents mitigate rising fuel costs, with 19 percent saving more on fuel expenses by working from home, as per the report.
