Consumers Open to E-Mobility

Consumers in Germany are open to new forms of mobility. This is shown by a recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Reichelt Elektronik. From the Germans' point of view, electric cars have the greatest potential for the future.

At least ten million electric cars are to be driven in Germany by 2030. A goal, which was anchored in the recently passed climate package of the federal government. Currently, about 83,000 electric cars are registered in Germany. To promote the climate targets, a discount on electric cars will be offered, which, according to the climate package, is to be extended from 2021 and partly increased.

Whether these objectives can be achieved, however, also depends on the purchasing decisions of consumers in the country. In order to find out more about the attitude of Germans towards e-cars and e-bikes, Reichelt Elektronik has now had OnePoll conduct a survey among 1000 private individuals in Germany regarding various evehicles – with interesting results.

Consumers are driven by concern for the environment

The main factor for the purchase of an e-car is the associated contribution to the protection of the environment. 40 percent of all respondents cited it as their primary reason for purchasing an e-car. This is followed – by a larger margin – by cost savings of almost 14 percent compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Nevertheless, many consumers are aware that even electric vehicles do not solve all environmental problems. 37 percent consider e-cars to be only slightly more environmentally friendly than conventional cars. In each case, a quarter of the respondents consider e-vehicles to be much more environmentally friendly or assume that they have the same environmental impact as a petrol or diesel car. Ten percent, on the other hand, consider e-cars to be far less environmentally friendly than other cars.

E-bikes - comfort also plays a role

24 Prozent der Befragten besitzen bereits ein E-Bike. Die Altersgruppe mit den meisten E-Fahrzeugbesitzern sind die 18- bis 34-Jährigen. Von ihnen haben circa 34 Prozent schon ein E-Bike. Hauptgrund für die Anschaffung eines E-Bikes ist für 27 Prozent der Befragten der höhere Komfort beim Fahren, beispielsweise in bergigen Umgebungen oder bei starkem Wind. 23 Prozent nannten als Beweggrund zur Anschaffung des E-Bikes die daraus resultierende seltenere Nutzung des Autos und den damit einhergehenden Beitrag zum Umweltschutz.

Diese Angaben passen zur Aussage von 45 Prozent der befragten Verbraucher, sie würden seit der Anschaffung des E-Bikes seltener ihr Auto nutzen als zuvor. Überraschenderweise sagten 17 Prozent aus, dass sie seit der Anschaffung häufiger Auto fahren als zuvor.

E-vehicles are the means of transport of the future

The interviewees regard the electric car as the most future-proof of all electric vehicles: 45 percent consider it to be the vehicle with the greatest potential for making a long-term contribution to environmental protection, and 55 percent are certain that in 25 years' time we will mainly see electric cars in traffic.

Although the survey results show large differences in the views on e-mobility, an open-mindedness and acceptance of the new vehicles can be observed. "In the light of the virulent debate on climate protection, many seem to understand that new solutions are needed - and in the case of e-vehicles, they are already using them with an awareness of their own responsibility to make a contribution," says Ulf Timmermann, CEO of Reichelt Elektronik, about the survey results.