Jeremy Clarkson is one of the most influential voices in the car world. Love him or hate him, his opinions shape conversations — especially when it comes to electric vehicles. But what does Clarkson actually think of EVs today? Has he softened his famously harsh stance? Or is he still the same EV critic he was during his early Top Gear days?
Let’s break it down in a simple, friendly way — and along the way, ask the same questions many general readers are asking.
Clarkson’s Early Take: “They’re Not Ready Yet”
If you’ve followed Clarkson for more than five minutes, you know he’s not shy about speaking his mind. When electric cars first appeared on his radar over a decade ago, he dismissed them as:
“Boring”
“Too quiet”
“Range-limited”
“Not real cars”
He even joked that driving an early EV was “like being on a life-support machine.” But was Clarkson completely wrong — or simply reflecting the weak EV technology of the time?
Question to the reader: Would any of us have loved early EVs when range was 120 km and charging stations barely existed?
His most famous dispute?
The Tesla Roadster episode on Top Gear — a segment that sparked years of arguments, lawsuits, and angry tweets. Whether you think Clarkson exaggerated or not, one thing was clear: at the time, he wasn’t convinced EVs could replace traditional cars.
How His Opinion Began to Change
Surprisingly, Clarkson’s stance didn’t stay frozen in the past. As automakers improved battery tech, acceleration, and design, Clarkson began acknowledging that EVs have some serious strengths.
Cars He Actually Likes
Porsche Taycan
Clarkson described it as “the first electric car I truly enjoyed.”
Rimac Nevera
He called it “nuclear fast” and said it proves EVs can be “properly exciting.”
Audi RS e-tron GT
He admitted it’s “impossibly quick and good-looking.”
This doesn’t mean he suddenly loves all electric cars — just the ones that are powerful, sporty, and thrilling.
Question to the reader: Is Clarkson warming up to EVs because they’re faster — or because they’re finally matching his taste in performance cars?
Where He Still Strongly Disagrees With the EV Push
Even though Clarkson praises certain EV models, his biggest criticisms remain unchanged:
1. Charging Infrastructure
He often complains that charging is:
Too slow
Too unreliable
Too limited outside major cities
He famously said:
“You can’t sell a car to the whole country if only part of the country can charge it.”
2. Cost
Clarkson regularly highlights how expensive modern EVs are compared to petrol cars.
3. Battery Mining and Environmental Claims
He argues that EV production still affects the environment, so calling them “zero-emission vehicles” is misleading.
Question to the reader: Is Clarkson being realistic about infrastructure and mining — or focusing too much on negatives?
Mini Chart-Style Visual Explanation: Clarkson’s Sentiment Over Time
Here’s a text-based chart showing how Clarkson’s tone has shifted:
YEAR | HIS GENERAL MOOD ON EVS ----------------------------------------- 2010 | Highly negative: “Boring, pointless.” 2015 | Still negative: “Range anxiety is real.” 2018 | Neutral: “Some are fast, but still annoying.” 2020 | Slightly positive: “Taycan is brilliant.” 2023 | Mixed: “Great performance, bad infrastructure.” 2024-25 | Balanced: Praise for some EVs, criticism of rollout.
His journey isn’t a simple “hate → love story.”
It’s more “hate → tolerate → respect performance → criticize infrastructure.”
EVs vs Hybrids vs Hydrogen: Clarkson’s Preference
Jeremy Clarkson has said many times that hybrids make more sense than fully electric cars for everyday people — at least for now. Why?
Hybrids avoid range anxiety
They don’t require huge public charging networks
They offer better long-distance reliability
He’s also surprisingly supportive of hydrogen, calling it the “fuel the world should be exploring more seriously.”
Question to the reader: If hydrogen fueling stations were as common as petrol today, would Clarkson already have switched sides?
How the Public Responds to His EV Opinions
Clarkson’s EV takes spark two types of reactions:
1. Supporters who agree
These people say:
He’s raising real concerns
Infrastructure is a big problem
EVs are still too expensive
Governments are rushing the transition
2. Critics who push back
This group argues:
Clarkson is stuck in the past
EVs are improving faster than he admits
Most drivers don’t need 500 km range
He focuses only on niche high-performance cars
This divide mirrors the broader EV debate globally — which is exactly why his opinions get so much attention.
So What Does Clarkson Really Think Today?
Clarkson doesn’t hate electric cars.
He hates the limitations, infrastructure gaps, and political pressure surrounding them.
But when an EV is:
Fast
Fun
Beautiful
Well-engineered
He will praise it loudly — sometimes even more than he praises petrol cars.
Final question to you: Is Clarkson’s stance unreasonable, or is he simply saying what many silent drivers are thinking?
