One of the key downsides of electric cars – the time their batteries take to refill – looks to be a net benefit for forecourt firms that offer charging facilities, as 91% of drivers are said to make purchases while their cars are plugged in.
The data comes from a survey of 2,000 drivers commissioned by payment-processing firm Attenda, which found 47% of those who buy goods and services while their cars charge do so regularly.
As things stand, however, nine out of 10 EV owners can charge at home and are likely to use public sockets only when forced to by long journeys, meaning that 47% relates to a small customer base.
The report also documents that drivers prefer charging locations that offer forecourt staples such as coffee, food, bathrooms and valeting facilities.
Attenda says 47% of drivers prefer unattended payment facilities, as offered by some EV charging devices that integrate payment and ordering touchscreens into their hardware.
Forecourt operators continue to weigh up the pros and cons of EV charging, with some seeking to get grid connections and sockets now, rather than wait for the number of electric cars on the road to reach critical mass; while others maintain that previous hardstanding space is better utilised by conventional parking bays, or expanded valeting options.
