Here’s my view. Demand needs to be created, it’ll never happen just because. Whether it’s for EVs, heat pumps or a new brand of mobile phone, if you can’t (or won’t) generate demand sales will always be low.
BEVs will always need some convincing for some people. They live in houses suited to home charging and most of the common obstacles don’t apply to them but give them a choice and they just pick what they know. The extremes of this subject are busy spreading their own propaganda, whether it’s oil companies making stuff up or tree huggers spreading statistics to negate the opposite narrative. In the middle somewhere there’s people who don’t mind the idea but haven’t found the right car or don’t want to spend the required amount for a decent EV, especially when depreciation is quite steep for some vehicles. Then there’s those who have an EV, like it and really don’t want to go back. Are either wrong? Not really.
The government were trying to generate demand, incentives for buying, tax incentives for corporate customers, then they changed track, RFL matching ICE, EV pricing putting a huge number of fairly average EVs into the luxury bracket for taxing. I doubt corporate tax incentives will last too long with a government running out of money.
If the government won’t create demand, it’s left to the manufacturers. Many legacy companies aren’t working too hard at marketing new cars whilst many economies are struggling and resistance is rather well organised. It costs them money to develop these new cars, money they’re not getting suitable returns on. Meanwhile there’s the new wave of manufacturing, mostly Chinese, building increasingly better cars, for less money and willing to do whatever is necessary to gain market share.
Who will create demand for EVs? I’m very happy with my choice but it’s not on me to convince people, the government are too busy to get involved, manufacturers are having mixed opinions. Legacy manufacturers will do their best to convince governments to delay legislation, new manufacturers will do their thing and grow market share. Without someone doing something, nothing will change, as demand fails to grow, those pushing against the change will declare victory, probably highlighting where legacy manufacturers are changing their resourcing whilst not looking at what others are doing to grow their products.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.
Mark