Electric vehicle sales are surging, with a 24% increase in March marking the highest month ever for EV registrations, buoyed by high fuel prices and government incentives. As the UK targets a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, the next generation of drivers will be crucial to the transition.
To gauge young attitudes, two teenagers, Suki Basford (17) and her brother Leo (13), were taken for their first drives in an electric car at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey. Leo, who had never driven before, said EVs are 'good for the planet' and hoped everyone would adopt them. Suki acknowledged environmental benefits but raised concerns about charging infrastructure and battery production.
Both agreed on the excitement of driving, with Suki calling it 'a coming-of-age thing'. They expect cars to be fully electric in the future, though neither was bothered by potentially missing out on petrol or diesel. Suki plans to learn in an automatic, noting little difference between an EV and an automatic petrol car.
Behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz CLA with 484 miles of range, Leo drove under the guidance of instructor Ed Redfern. He quickly gained confidence, navigating the test track smoothly as if he were an experienced driver.
