Results of EastLink's Annual Victorian Self-Driving and Electric Car Survey

For the first time in EastLink’s Annual Victorian Self-Driving and Electric Car Survey, motorists prefer hybrid power for their next car over a traditional petrol engine.

While the EastLink survey shows that use of the latest driver assistance functions is growing each year, some motorists are disillusioned with fully self-driving cars.

Most motorists “definitely want” a connected car for traffic warnings, road condition warnings and vehicle security features.

However, the EastLink survey also indicates that most motorists remain unconvinced by road use charging.

More than 22,000 Victorian motorists fully completed the latest survey in late 2019, which is a 22% increase on the previous year.

Download the media release which includes more information and survey result details:

200207 EastLink survey results - motorists now prefer hybrids

Key survey findings:

• For the first time, more motorists would prefer hybrid power for their next car over a traditional petrol combustion engine.
• The preference for 100% fully electric power is not far behind, also growing strongly.
• The biggest barrier to owning a 100% fully electric vehicle is purchase cost (72%), followed by the lack of charging facilities away from home (58%), and then vehicle range before re-charging (47%).
• 68% of motorists think that Governments should provide incentives to encourage the takeup of electric vehicles.
• More and more motorists are using the latest driver assistance functions each year.
• Female motorists increasingly want the latest driver assistance functions in their next car, which is closing the gap in demand for these functions compared to male motorists.
• However, some motorists are disillusioned with the concept of fully self-driving cars.
• There has been a sizeable decrease in the proportion of motorists who could imagine using hands-off driving on a freeway.
• Demand for fully self-driving on all roads remains significantly lower than it was two years ago.
• There has also been a decrease in the proportion of motorists who would take a ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, even when there is a driver in the vehicle constantly monitoring and ready to take control.
• Six out of ten motorists "definitely want" their next car to be connected to a data network for traffic warnings, road condition warnings and vehicle security features.
• Meanwhile, 63% of motorists continue to be unconvinced by road use charging.

Examples of charts from the survey results:

How is your current vehicle powered?
What power preference/s do you have for your NEXT vehicle?

What power preference/s do you have for your NEXT vehicle?
(charted by when the motorist expects to get their next vehicle)

What do you see as the main barriers to you owning a 100% electric vehicle?

Do you think governments should give incentives to drive a faster uptake of electric vehicles in Australia?
If yes, what type of incentives should governments provide?

Does your CURRENT vehicle have any of the following safety or driver assist functions?
If so, do you use them?

Which of the following automated functions would you want in your NEXT vehicle?

Could you imagine using hands-off driving on a freeway?

If you were given the opportunity to travel as a passenger in a fully self-driving car on a freeway among other traffic, would you do it?

Would you want your NEXT vehicle to offer fully self-driving on all roads?

Do you want your NEXT vehicle to be connected to a data network for the following reasons?

Do you think fuel tax should be replaced by a per-kilometre road use charge that EVERY vehicle is charged? (trucks would pay more per kilometre than cars)