Analysing Google Trend data, UK Care Guide and Help and Advice have identified that since June 2022, the number of people searching Google for information on electric cars has more than halved in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Google Trends is a search platform that shows the popularity of a search term over a chosen period in a selected region. It shows the relative popularity in the form of a ratio.
Google Trends divides a particular query’s search volume by the total number of searches completed in the given time period and geographic region. The resulting ratio is then scaled on a range of 0-100.
Based on this analysis, you can see that as of June 22, the search ratio score was 100. However, by 18 March 2022, this had fallen to 45, representing a decline of 55%.
The chart below is interactive, so you can see the scores at different points in the past year.
Please note that if you cannot see the chart below, you may need a Chrome browser to access it. You can click here to access the interactive graph if you cannot see it5
Whilst the number of electric cars being sold is increasing year on year, it is interesting to see that the popularity, in terms of people searching for information on electric cars, is falling.
Although electric vehicle prices have decreased over the years, they are still relatively expensive compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. In light of the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic, consumers on a tight budget may be more inclined to choose a less expensive option.
Despite significant advances in battery technology, range anxiety persists among prospective EV buyers.
Even though the average range of electric vehicles has increased, it is still inferior to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. The lack of charging infrastructure and limited range can be significant deterrents for people who frequently take long trips or live in rural areas.
Inadequate charging infrastructure is another factor contributing to the decline in EV search volume.
While the number of charging stations has increased in urban areas, rural regions still need the necessary infrastructure, making it difficult for prospective buyers to commit to purchasing an electric vehicle.
In contrast, petrol stations are ubiquitous, so consumers do not need to be concerned about refuelling while on the road.
Electric vehicles are still developing, and some prospective buyers may wait for additional improvements before purchasing an EV. Even at fast-charging stations, charging times for electric vehicles remain significantly longer than refuelling times for gasoline-powered vehicles.
The increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles, which combine gasoline and electric power, has also contributed to the decline in searches for electric vehicles.
Hybrids provide a compromise between conventional gasoline-powered vehicles and fully electric models, allowing drivers to take advantage of electric technology while retaining the option to use gasoline as a backup.
For more information about the analysis, please get in touch with [email protected]
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