Do learner drivers prefer having lessons in an electric vehicle?

A new survey of learner drivers has found that half of them would prefer to learn in an electric vehicle (EV) – however, a lack of instructors is slowing the transition to electric.

In total, 48% of learners would prefer to learn in an EV – but only one in seven of those surveyed are able to find a local instructor who uses an electric car.

Further analysis of the data found that 41% of people who are learning to drive in London are able to locate an instructor with an EV, while only 10% of learners in Yorkshire or the East of England can.

Also, those in the West Midlands discovered that 23% of all instructors were able to learners out on the roads in an EV.

The survey also found that learners are also preferring to learn in a an automatic rather than a manual. EVs only use automatic transitions.

In fact, 29% told Gridserve – who carried out the survey – that they did not want to learn to drive in a manual vehicle when they would likely spend the majority of the life behind the wheel, driving an automatic EV.

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According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT), 70% of all new vehicles registered in 2023 were automatics – both petrol powered and electric.

Interestingly, another 24% of learners said that their first vehicle will be an electric car.

Rod Dennis, RAC spokesman, said: “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.”

Are you a learner driver? If so, would you prefer to learn in an EV? What are the obstacles you are facing? Leave your comments below.