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Despite much of the narrative from government, the industry and – depending where you look – social media pushing electric vehicles and the green agenda, it often doesn’t resonate with everyone.

Recently, I’ve had numerous conversations with people who are looking at new cars, but are reluctant to switch to EV. I’m not talking about the anti-EV brigade – although I’ve interacted with a few of them too – because they are a different breed altogether. When someone goes out of their way to think of any negative connotation of something, it’s probably time to leave the conversation and move on. You’re not going to convince them otherwise, so what’s the point?

No, I’m talking about level-headed, reasonable, relatively open-minded drivers who simply don’t yet want to change, for whatever reason. In one case, the person’s usage would suit an EV perfectly – lots of short journeys, never more than 40 miles – but they weren’t ready to deal with charging instead of refuelling. That’s fair enough to me – each to their own and all that. In another case, the driver is old school, does big mileage and loves the huge range that a diesel fuel tank offers. With two motorbikes in his garage, he’s a bit of an ICE lover, so his reluctance is also understandable.

Some people won’t change until they have to – and that’s fine. But, for others, it is sometimes worth flagging up what the benefits could be and why EVs – or even hybrids – could work for them. Clearly cost-saving is a big factor – and this issue of EV Fleet World Digital Magazine features a profile of one operator that has cut its fuel bill by thousands, simply by switching some of its fleet to EV.

Other drivers might just want a bit of confidence in electric cars, which is where plug-in hybrids could play a role. Like any automotive powertrain there are pros and cons but, run effectively, PHEVs offer many of the benefits of electric, but with the safety net that a lot of people crave. No, most drivers probably aren’t going to get the 250+mpg WLTP figures but, with a bit of effort, visits to the fuel station will be few and far between.

We’ve got an insight into where the PHEV market is right now and where it’s going. Within the PHEV section, we’ve spent some time with two of the latest plug-ins on the market, from Vauxhall and Citroën.

There’s not going to be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution over the coming months and years, but it pays to keep your options open, especially if you are properly informed. That applies to those who have already made the switch, because there’s likely to be more benefits to running an EV than you’re probably realising.

John Challen Editor