Older drivers vow to never buy an electric car over belief 'they aren't needed to combat climate change'

One expert suggested that people saw electric vehicles as a "fad" and believed they were a "fleeting trend", with 34 per cent agreeing with the statement.

It also revealed that more than half of UK drivers (51 per cent) disagree with the decision to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, at which point electric vehicles will become the norm.

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A spokesperson from CarMats.co.uk said: "In the survey, major pushbacks to electric cars include range anxiety, the high cost of buying one, and the belief that they aren't needed to combat climate change.

"Older Brits may not prioritise climate change due to a generational gap in awareness and varying personal experiences of having used petrol cars longer than younger Brits."

In opposition to elderly drivers, one in six millennials - those born between 1981 and 1996 - believe polluting petrol cars should be banned immediately, compared to one in 10 for all age groups.

The spokesperson suggested that younger motorists have grown up in a generation where they are more aware of environmental issues caused by harmful emissions.

A Transport for London survey from 2016 found that elderly drivers prioritise reliability, durability, the list price and fuel efficiency more than other factors when it comes to choosing a new vehicle.

It found that key issues holding elderly drivers back from making the switch to an electric vehicle included not enough charging points and the perception that EVs "seem inconvenient to charge".

While there are tens of thousands more chargers around London and the rest of the country now when compared to 2016, many drivers are still hesitant about making the switch because of charging issues.

Experts are optimistic that the UK will see more than 300,000 electric car chargers installed before the end of the decade - meeting the Government's target slightly early.

Labour is expected to reinstate the 2030 deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2035 after it was changed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in September last year.

It is expected that this will reignite interest in electric vehicles across the UK with many drivers calling for several measures to be introduced before they can make the transition.

This includes greater support for motorists who want to switch through incentive schemes to cut costs and larger grants for home EV chargers to ease battery range fears.

According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), more than 34,000 battery electric vehicles were registered in the UK in June, enough for a market share worth 19 per cent.

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In contrast, 91,227 petrol cars were registered in June, with these vehicles still dominating the market share (50.9 per cent), although this is a -7.8 per cent year-on-year change.