​Drivers wanting to make the switch to electric are discovering they might have to wait up to two years before they can get the keys to their new car, research by Electrifying.com has found.

A surge in demand together with a global shortage of semiconductor chips continues to wreak havoc on the industry, forcing carmakers to slow down production of new vehicles and causing long delays for deliveries. 

Just four months ago, popular models including the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Mokka-e and the Renault Zoe were freely available, however car buyers now face waiting times of up to five months to get behind the wheel.

At the more luxurious end of the market, consumers could be waiting for up to 18 months for an Audi E-Tron, while comparatively modest models including the Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq come with waiting times of over a year.

The current climate has even led to popular brand Tesla continuing with its hold on production altogether on the Model X and Model S.

 Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said: “This is a difficult time for both consumers and the car industry, yet electric cars are bucking the trend, with sales increasing by 50% compared to this time last year. Unfortunately this surge in demand together with supply chain issues and chip shortages has led to significant delays for many drivers.

“Cars like the VW ID.3 which were freely available last year now have waiting times of up to 18 months, and dealerships are telling us this problem isn’t going away any time soon. If you can be flexible with your tech, trim and colour, then some cars may be available sooner. Don’t expect remarkable offers though - with stock so low and competition so high, bargains are becoming increasingly hard to come by.’’ ​

Estimated waiting times for new electric cars, as of 10 August 2022:

• ​Audi E-Tron: 18 months
• ​BMW i4: 9 - 12 months
• ​BMW iX: 3 months
• ​Citroen e-C4: 3 months
• ​Cupra Born: 3 months
• ​DS 3 Crossback E-Tense: 4 months
• ​Fiat 500e: 5 - 6 months
• ​Ford Mustang Mach-E: (9 - 12 months
• ​Hyundai IONIQ: (ceased production as it’s being replaced)
• ​Hyundai IONIQ 5: 7 months
• Hyundai Kona: 2 months
• ​Jaguar I - Pace: up to 6 months
• ​Kia Niro EV: 3-6 months 
• ​Kia EV6: 12-15 months
• ​Kia Soul: 12 months
• ​Lexus UX300e: 12 months 
• ​Mazda MX-30: up to six months
• MG 4 : 2-3 months
• MG5 EV: 4-5 months
• MG ZS: up to 12 months
• MINI Electric: 6 - 9 months
• ​Nissan Leaf: 5 months+
• ​Peugeot e208: 6 months
• ​Polestar 2: 6 - 8 months
• ​Porsche Taycan: 12 months
• ​Renault Zoe: 3 - 4 months
• ​Skoda Enyaq: 18 months
• ​Tesla Model S: 18-24 months (NO PRODUCTION)
• ​Tesla Model X: 18-24 months (NO PRODUCTION)
• ​Tesla Model 3: 6 - 9 months
• Tesla Model Y: 3 - 6 months
• ​Vauxhall Corsa-e: 3 - 4 months
• ​Vauxhall Mokka-e: 3 - 4 months
• ​Volkswagen ID.3: 12 - 18 months
• ​Volkswagen ID.4: 7.5 months