eReadiness Index: 77 percent would have bought an electric car even without subsidies

The sales of electric cars are expected to continue despite current production difficulties caused by the ongoing chip shortage, global supply chain problems, and the impacts of the war in Ukraine. This is because more than half of the European respondents (55 percent) now plan to buy an electric car in the next two years.

The number of electric car owners is noticeably increasing

For the study, around 4,600 users from seven EU countries—Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain—were surveyed. The respondents were divided into groups of electric car owners, electric car enthusiasts, and electric car skeptics. Additionally, the individual nations were classified in an "eReadiness Index" based on their maturity level in electromobility, which included four criteria: government incentives, infrastructure, supply, and demand. The latter is certainly rising: six percent of respondents currently own an electric car, compared to four percent in 2021. They are on average male (52 percent), 41 years old, live 79 percent in the city, and mostly (88 percent) have their own parking space.

Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of European respondents belong to the group of electric car enthusiasts, who intend to buy an electric car within the next five years. They have a similar average age (44 years) as electric car owners and also mostly live in urban areas (78 percent). Interestingly, they differ significantly in income (electric car owners: €74,000; electric car enthusiasts: €48,000) and only 79 percent have a private parking space.

Lower mileage costs as an incentive – ahead of environmental friendliness

The advantages of an electric car for the group of enthusiasts lie mainly in lower mileage costs (18 percent), environmental friendliness (17 percent), and the possibility of charging the vehicle at home (11 percent) instead of going to the gas station.

About one-third of respondents (31 percent) remain skeptical about electromobility. They live less often in cities (67 percent) than electric car owners and enthusiasts and cite limited range as one of the main reasons against buying an electric car (17 percent). High purchase costs (17 percent) and long charging times (14 percent) are also unattractive to them. Interestingly, concerns about battery life have increased compared to the previous year (11 percent—up from 8 percent in 2021). And this, despite more and more data indicating that battery life is unlikely to be an issue. Compared to electric car enthusiasts, skeptics are generally older (53 years) and have a lower annual income (electric car skeptics: €40,000).

More used electric cars are coming onto the market

Used electric cars are a way to circumvent high purchase costs. Used electric cars now account for 20 percent of all electric car purchases, up from 15 percent in 2021. Compared to new car buyers, used car buyers have a lower income (€65,000). A potentially delicate issue for the future: the expected residual value of their vehicle is important for 55 percent of electric car buyers.

No surprise: Norway leads

In the comparative "eReadiness Index" among the seven European countries, Norway is clearly at the top in terms of maturity in electromobility. In the evaluation of the four dimensions – government incentives for electric cars, state of infrastructure, supply diversity, and demand potential – the country achieved an index value of 4.5 (on a scale of 1-5). Especially infrastructure aspects such as the number of charging points and the proportion of renewable energy are particularly well developed in Norway. On the demand side, the country also offers the best score with a particularly high willingness to buy.

Switzerland follows in second place after Norway (index value: 3.0), also with high demand, supported by well-developed infrastructure. England ranks third with high demand, which has not yet been fully utilized due to lower government incentives.

Germany only in the midfield

Germany ranks moderately with an index value of 2.6 due to insufficient infrastructure and expandable demand, placing fourth out of seven. Behind are France in fifth place, with significant deficits in government incentives, and Italy and Spain in sixth and seventh places, both of which have particularly underdeveloped infrastructure for electromobility. The planned reduction in subsidies in Germany has not yet been taken into account.

What does this mean?

Electromobility continues to be on the rise – however, not explosively, but in a "healthily increasing" curve.