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Blighty’s barmy for e-cars, poll discovers

6.7m planning to buy within five years

Leccy Tech British folks are plain crazy about leccy cars, according to an RAC poll.

The survey – based on 1000 motorists’ answers – summarised that roughly 6.7m of Britain’s drivers are considering buying a vehicle powered solely by batteries at some point during the next five years.

And the figure doesn't sound unreasonable, because a quick straw poll here at Register Hardware discovered two employees who would definitely buy a Chevy Volt, another who wants an iMiEV Sport Air and one who’s after a Tesla S.

Leccy buyers will, presumably, only be swayed if the price of such cars is more or less in line with conventional petrol burners, though.

The RAC’s survey also revealed that Blighty’s drivers want their e-cars sooner rather than later, and that could be a problem.

The Volt isn't due to land here until 2011 and the Tesla S’ arrival is ever further away. More to the point, the government’s £5000 ($8196/€5759) e-car rebate doesn't kick in until 2011.

Still, maintaining a latent demand is easier than creating one. So it’s reasonable to assume that unless the cost of a gallon of unleaded plummets to 50p, we’ll still want our leccy cars come 2015 or 2017, the latter date being the time when the government reckons e-cars will become a true mass-market offering. ®

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