EU survey: most EV drivers satisfied and not going back to fossil

The 2023 European EAFO Consumer Monitor, an EU survey among 17,034 non-electric drivers and 2,046 actual BEV drivers in twelve countries, shows that despite the negative press EVs are getting in some countries, most EV drivers are generally satisfied and not willing to go back to fossil.

Among non-EV drivers, 57% consider buying one in the short or long term, and 25% say ‘definitely ‘not.’ In Belgium, 44% of the surveyed non-BEV drivers would consider buying a BEV, 21% do not know if they would buy, and 35% say they would not. But the ones who drive one already will definitely (83.15%) go for another EV in the future.

The biggest hurdles to overcome to convince drivers to go electric remain the rooted prejudices about the purchase price, range, and charging infrastructure.

Cost comparison with fossil fuel cars?

However, the survey shows that the most relevant information to form a clear opinion about electric driving is the cost comparison with fossil fuel cars, batteries, and driving range for all surveyed European and Belgian drivers. They usually have no idea about a car’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

In Belgium, the EAFO online survey was carried out with the help of AVERE, the Brussels University VUB,  and the mobility organization Touring, with 1,440 non-BEV drivers and 96 BEVs, a statistical representation of the general population.

One remarkable conclusion Touring draws is that contrary to the general perception that BEVs have an insufficient range, 83% of Belgian EV drivers are ‘always’ or ‘mostly’ satisfied with the offered range.

Fewer range than ‘promised’

However, only 29.89% say they get the kilometers of (WLTP) range the carmaker promises, while 22.99% see a deviation of 10%,  32.18% somewhat between 10 and 20%, and 13.79% say the difference is more than 20%. On the other hand, WLTP figures are lab-based to have a common platform and deviate likewise in fossil fuel consumption figures.

Price is the most common barrier to buying an EV, as is the case for Belgians and Europeans. The majority in Belgium (73.63%) say EVs are too expensive. Belgian participants are willing to pay €24,000 (the median value) for a used or new BEV, whereas 33% paid between €20,000 and €39,999.

For both non-BEV drivers and EV drivers in all countries, a subsidy to purchase a new BEV is the incentive with the highest perceived impact. Although the survey did not directly ask this question, it proves that TCO, which is used extensively in the professional sector to compare the actual cost of a vehicle, is generally unknown.

However, several studies showed that the TCO of an EV compared to its ICE sibling is already on par or lower today, even without direct government subsidies. That’s primarily explainable by the lower energy cost and taxes, especially when charged at home.

Charging at home or work

In that light, it’s interesting to see that 33.33% of the Belgian EV drivers charge several times a week at home, 21.88% at work, 15.62% at a public AC charger, and even 13.54% at a DC fast charger on the highway or at fuel stations.

They indicate that ‘comfort’ is considered most important when charging publicly, meaning availability, speed of charging, a fixed cable so you don’t have to use your own cable, and transparency in pricing.

That’s for everyday commuting, but what about when going on holiday? The survey confirms another prejudice among non-BEV drivers, of which 68.57% indicated they think having to stop too frequently for charging on the way to their destination and 60% fearing losing ‘too much time’. 45.71% believe there are too few charging facilities available on their route.

However, 55.21% of the Belgian EV drivers surveyed have already gone on holiday on multiple occasions with an electric car, and 16.67% had already done so once. In addition, 36.23% found the charging experience abroad ‘very easy’, and 34.78% said it was ‘easy’. That’s more than 70%. Still, having to plan the trip according to the recharging needs is seen as an inconvenience.

Who’s driving an EV?

It’s interesting to know that Belgian non-BEV drivers are typically characterized as 55+-year-old men living in a detached house with a middle income (€2,000 to €3,999) and secondary education level. On the other hand, a 35- to 55-year-old male living in a detached house with a high income (€4,000 to €5,999) and a high education level represents BEV drivers.

On the European level, the average BEV driver is likely in age and education but with a lower monthly income (€2,000 to €3,999). Non-BEV drivers are typically 35- to 55-year-old females living in an apartment with a middle income (€2,000 to €3,999) and secondary education.