Electric car drivers admit to ‘charge rage’ in public amid calls for support in Budget

A survey of 1,5000 motorists found that a third of drivers have been involved in an argument or have had a disagreement with another person at a charging site.

So-called “charge rage” has become a more prevalent issue in recent years as more drivers invest in electric.

Around 40 per cent of electric car owners do not have access to off-street charging, requiring them to rely heavily on the public charging network.

There have been instances of tensions flaring at public charging stations in recent years, especially at busier times of the year, like Christmas.

Zapmap analysis shows that there are almost 125,000 public charging stations across the UK, with around 1,000 being added every month.

This is likely to increase over the coming years as millions of drivers prepare to invest in a new electric vehicle.

The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030, while 100 per cent of all new car sales will need to be zero emission five years later.

Research from road safety experts OOONO shows that 55 per cent of motorists are hesitant to ditch their older car and invest in electric.

Reasons behind this include uncertain Government policies, such as Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), which will see motorists charged for every mile they drive.

Driver uncertainty rises to 73 per cent among people who have already invested in an EV, with rising concerns about future motoring costs.

The research comes just weeks before John Healey delivers his first Budget as Chancellor, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham also overseeing his maiden Budget.

Labour’s Electric Car Grant has already helped around 150,000 drivers get their hands on an EV with a maximum discount of £3,750.

Some of the most popular cars on the market are available through the Electric Car Grant, such as the electric variant of the UK’s best-selling car – the Ford Puma.

Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of motorists admitted that they would be open to buying an electric car if the Government introduced additional incentives.

The Budget could be the perfect time for the Government to further stimulate the electric car market, following a bumper month of sales.

September saw the highest number of electric car registrations in a single month ever, with almost 100,000 sales, resulting in EVs capturing 28.3 per cent of the total market share.

OOONO found that 40 per cent of drivers want to see Chancellor John Healey reduce public charging costs to give them confidence when considering a new car.