Understanding the rural demographics need for electric vehicles

UK Government legislation has outlined the transition from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to Electric Vehicles (EVs) with the most recent Ten-Point Plan detailing the ending of sales of ICE vehicles by 2030. With EVs already gaining popularity, this transition is already underway. However, past large socio-techno transitions often leave rural communities behind (e.g. Internet and mobile connectivity). Therefore, a key part of engaging with rural communities is to provide a smoother transition for these areas to EV usage. This paper examines the nuances, particularly of the EV transition in rural areas identified through a survey distributed to households within the Peak District, a large rural area of the UK. Households were invited to complete an online survey about their travel patterns, current vehicle usage, awareness, and acceptance levels of EVs, electricity tariffs and charging, and access to public transport. This paper presents the findings from this survey.