A ‘plugged-in perception gap’ exists between those who actually own an EV or heat pump and think they are shielding themselves against high prices, and those who don’t own and don’t believe.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has reported that three-quarters (75 per cent) of the public think that energy prices will remain high for a prolonged period, with only 17 per cent thinking the current energy crisis is temporary.

The new polling also found that around half (46 per cent) of the British public say that the uptake of heat pumps will make the UK more energy independent, and less dependent on imported fossil fuels, more than three times those who disagree (13 per cent). Indeed, half (51 per cent) think government should support and encourage the installation of heat pumps in homes, compared to around a quarter (27 per cent) who don’t.

Roughly half (47 per cent) of the wider public believed EV drivers weren't saving money during the current energy crisis with just around a third (39 per cent) thinking they were.

However, of those with firsthand experience of owning and driving EVs said they felt better protected against energy price spikes, which is somewhat something of confirmation bias, but at least a sign that there is little buyers’ remorse.

In a wider context, the polling from Verian was also conducted in Germany, France, Poland, Spain and Italy. Across the UK and these other European countries, the general public was evenly split on whether they think heat pumps offer a shield against rising bills, with 38 per cent believing they do and 35 per cent believing they do not. Yet, when looking specifically at households that actually own a heat pump, more than half (58 per cent) stated that the technology has been protecting them against the rise in energy bills.

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