Internet searches for electric cars reached new heights this month in the UK, according to initial data from Google Trends, as oil prices surged.
The early search figures, which are subject to change, come as the government this week set a new target to increase the number of electric car chargers tenfold to 300,000 by 2030 amid concerns that the introduction of the infrastructure has been too slow.
With the backing of a £1.6bn Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, charging will become easier and cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car, the Department of Transport said.
Sales of alternatively-fuelled vehicles comprise of more than a third of the market in 2022, and were double the level of a year earlier at the end of February, according to the most recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
“The EV infrastructure strategy points in the right direction, addressing problems with the current customer charging experience and setting out a nationally co-ordinated, locally delivered plan,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
Sales of new cars and vans with petrol engines are to be banned from 2030 and one in 10 drivers plan to go electric when buying their next car, according to the AA.