Green car buyers prepared to pay premium for electric cars

Environmentally aware car buyers will pay a premium of up to 30 per cent for zero emission driving but are divided on accepting compromise on space, performance and utility.

These are the key findings from in depth interviews carried out by Liberty Electric Cars, among visitors to the Eden Project ‘Green’ Car Show.

Sixty-five per cent of respondents said that they would be prepared to pay up to 30 per cent more, for a zero emission electric car which addresses global warming by eliminating car exhaust. However 45 per cent said that they would not be willing to downsize to a small ‘city’ car with less performance, in order to go ‘green’.

Barry Shrier, CEO of Liberty Electric Cars, which is developing the world’s first zero emission electric Range Rover said: “The product development message is clear. As car buyers move to more environmentally-friendly technologies they want the best of both worlds; cars that deliver on performance, safety, functionality and style, without the high cost to the environment.”

Fifty-five per cent expected an electric car to have a driving range greater than 100 miles. The Liberty Electric Range Rover will travel for over 200 miles, or further with its on board generator.

When asked what would be the ‘clean’ fuel of the future, electric power was most people’s first choice.