E-cars in Germany: Private drivers remain skeptical and hesitant!

E-cars in Germany: Private drivers remain skeptical and hesitant!

The will report in the first quarter of 2023 Berlin newspaper that the proportion of purely electric cars in the private vehicle fleet in Germany is only 3%. This represents a stagnant development compared to the same period last year, as growth in the private sector was only 0.1 percent compared to the previous quarter. Klaus-Jürgen Heitmann, CEO of HUK Coburg, explains that electric cars are hardly popular in the private market.

The analysis refers exclusively to battery-powered, fully electric cars and excludes hybrid engines. With over 14 million insured vehicles, HUK Coburg is the market leader in car insurance in Germany. Every year, a six-figure number of private car owners register new vehicles, but there are regional differences here too: in federal states such as Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, the proportion of electric cars is more than twice as high as in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony.

Market research and buyer behavior

The “E-Barometer” records the switch from combustion to electric cars in Germany and shows interesting trends in purchasing behavior. According to the data, in the first quarter of 2023, 61% of buyers chose a used electric car, while 39% chose a new vehicle. In addition, a representative YouGov survey with 4,222 participants shows that 42% of those surveyed consider electric cars to be good or very good vehicles, while 51% rate them as less or not good at all.

Another alarming result shows that only 15% of those surveyed said that in principle only an electric car would be an option for them. In addition, 60% of those surveyed expressed greater concerns about buying a used electric car compared to a vehicle with a combustion engine. This indicates significant skepticism about the new technology.

Experiences and attitudes towards electric cars

The Reporting on mobiFlip also highlights that in 2024 the proportion of vehicle owners who switched to electric cars was the lowest in three years. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the worst year-end value since measurements began in 2020 was registered. 70% of driving license holders have never driven an electric car, which contributes significantly to the skepticism in the market.

The data shows that only 45% of Germans have a positive attitude towards electric cars. In contrast, 53% of people who have already driven an electric car rate it positively; For owners, this value even rises to 82%. What is also noticeable is the low level of driving experience with electric cars among certain groups such as women (21%), people aged 55 and over (19%) and infrequent drivers (18%). In contrast, frequent drivers (over 20,000 km/year) tested electric cars more often (43%).

With stagnant growth and cautious acceptance of electric cars, the market faces major challenges. The ongoing regional differences and different buyer behavior could require a strategic realignment of suppliers in order to increase the acceptance and sales of electric vehicles.