Survey Reveals Why 51% EV Owners In India Want To Switch To ICE Vehicles (image/unsplash)

While electric vehicles have been the latest trend, many Indians seem to be unhappy with the switch. Nearly 51 percent of EV car owners wish to revert back to petrol or diesel vehicles, stated a survey conducted by Park+.

Conducting a survey on 500 EV car owners in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, the Park+ report found that on average, EV owners reported lower levels of satisfaction than traditional ICE owners.

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Roughly 88 percent of EV vehicle owners reported experiencing charging anxiety, the feat of unavailable or faulty EV charging points. As a result, many owners prefer to restrict their travels to intercity trips under 50 km.

The report found that another hassle was the maintenance costs, as local mechanics find it harder to repair and fix electric vehicles. A second opinion on repair costs also contributes to the uncertainty.

Meanwhile, 33 percent of EV owners were worried about the resale value of the vehicles. The resale market of EVs is currently in its developing phase in addition to the absence of standardised tests to evaluate battery life, which makes up 30 percent of the value of the vehicle.

In comparison, selling ICE vehicles is much easier and simpler with a massive market.

Around 61 percent of respondents preferred the Tata Neon EV, which was followed by the Punch EV, with 19 percent preferring it. On the other hand, BYD, the world’s leading EV maker, faced criticism for its high pricing and lack in availability of test cars.

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The results of the survey are certainly a worrying matter for the growth of the EV industry in India. With the auto industry widening its production capacity to create more EV cars, the dissatisfaction among consumers can affect the future of the industry. However, it is worth noting that the EV industry in India is still in its nascent stage, and the development of a second market will take time.

Over 91,000 electric vehicles were sold in the country during FY23-24, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). With existing EV owners dissatisfied with their vehicles, the industry might be witnessing a bumpy ride in the coming future.