A new survey by the consulting firm McKinsey reveals that electric cars are once again in demand in Germany after a temporary decline. The survey, which was conducted on almost 20,000 car owners worldwide, including 3,200 from Germany, shows that 30% of German respondents plan to purchase an electric car as their next vehicle, which is a 7% increase from the previous year. Additionally, 18% plan to buy a plug-in hybrid, while 52% want to stick with a combustion engine car.
Electric vehicle popularity has also increased in Italy, France and the UK, with values ranging from 17% to 25%. In Germany, younger customers are much more inclined towards electric cars than older ones, with around 60% of those under 45 saying they want to buy an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid as their next car.
Many customers express concerns about the purchase price, battery range and charging infrastructure for electric cars. Those who currently drive combustion engine cars are particularly concerned about the gaps in the existing charging network (61%). Among those who already drive an electric car, fewer (33%) identify such shortcomings. Many potential buyers of electric cars also feel less bound to a specific brand: 29% of Germans consider purchasing a new brand, while in Italy, it’s even 41%.