Is Nigel Farage helping boost support for EVs?

New research has revealed that Nigel Farage’s anti-EV campaigning may actually be helping drive up public support for electric cars.

Non-partisan research company Persuasion UK has discovered that net support for EVs increased by 8% when Nigel Farage was associated with an anti-EV position.

It found that other public figures who are perceived to be extreme or anti-environment also make anti-EV positions undesirable – repelling rather than attracting support to their cause.

The findings were part of research examining which public figures can influence opinion towards EVs.

Andrew Tate caused a net 4% increase in EV support when associated with an anti-EV position, while Shell boss Wael Sawanm caused a net 6% increase in EV support.

In contrast, consumer champions and environmentalists had the most potential to turn people against EVs.

Octopus Energy founder and boss Greg Jackson, for example, caused a 12% drop in support for EVs when he was associated with anti-EV positions.

"Among all the noise, it’s easy to forget how ‘normal’ most of the UK public is," says Persuasion UK’s Steve Akehurst.

"The vast majority are instinctively pro-EV on environmental grounds, but have concerns about cost and convenience. Trusted voices who deal with these concerns are far more influential than controversial figures who are perceived by most to have undesirable views."

"In truth, people who try to turn EVs into a culture war are on a hiding to nothing," adds Akehurst.

The research he explained, saw 4000 people polled and nearly 6500 sent a randomised message. They were presented with a fictional news article about EVs, with different public figures – drawn at random from a list – either supporting or opposing EVs.

After reading it, they were quizzed on their support for the 2030 phase-out of ICE cars. Their responses were then cross-referenced with which celebrity endorsement they received.