A recent survey that took place has found that nearly 50% of all learner drivers would be happiest if they could take their lessons in an electric car to learn how to drive.
This certainly makes for an interesting approach to learning to drive, and it comes from a very unique place. There are definitely roadblocks to this idea taking hold, but the fact remains that it can be a good thing if properly implemented.
It is thought that 48% of all learners would be happy to learn how to drive in an electric vehicle, according to a new study. However, the main roadblock that they face is an inability to get an instructor with a vehicle that works for them - one in seven are unable to find anyone who uses an electric car.
There is a considerable disparity between people who want to learn to drive electric and where they are living. For example, 41% of learners in the London area could successfully find someone with an electric car to teach them how to drive. However, this is offset by the idea that only 10% of learners in somewhere like the East of England or Yorkshire can find a teacher with an electric car.
With 23% of all drivers in the West Midlands getting access to an electric vehicle, it’s clear that more needs to be done to encourage the use of electric vehicles for everyone. This is especially true when considering that learners are also more inclined to learn using an automatic vehicle than a manual vehicle, which is based heavily on the fact that an electric vehicle is only ever an automatic transmission.
29% of drivers say that they want to learn to drive in an automatic simply because they expect to spend most of their lives using an electric and thus have no need for a manual gearbox. It is thought that 70% of all new vehicles registered in 2023 were, to be fair, electric vehicles and also automatics.
An expert opinion on the subject comes from Rod Dennis, who is an RAC spokesman. He had the following to offer:
“While manual gearboxes still dominate today, arguably the writing is on the wall for them as electric cars gain popularity. And in a strange way, as the rise of single-gear cars becomes unstoppable, there's a chance drivers will end up getting rather misty-eyed about "manuals".
As the rise of single-gear cars becomes unstoppable, there's a chance drivers will end up getting rather misty-eyed about 'manuals'. After all, switching up and down the gears has been an integral part of driving – and learning to drive – for many of us for so long, and is one of the main ways we feel in control of the car.
The incredibly smooth delivery of power from electric motors, while no less satisfying, is quite a different experience entirely.”