Survey: Belgian drivers cool on EVs, skepticism grows

Belgian private drivers are avoiding electric vehicles. They cite cost, lack of infrastructure, and doubts about sustainability, even as the country embraces broader changes in mobility trends. According to the 2025 Mobility Barometer by insurer Europ Assistance, 62 percent of respondents say their next car won’t be electric, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Only 10 percent are sure they will buy an EV next, underscoring the gap between climate ambitions and consumer readiness. Just as troubling for automakers, 20 percent believe the complete transition to electric mobility will never happen.

These findings confirm the industry-wide backdrop in EV adoption, at least in Western Europe. Europ Assistance also registers more pessimism in other EU countries, especially France and Portugal.

Doubts grow among youngsters

The resistance isn’t just short-term hesitation. One in five respondents believes a complete shift to electric vehicles will never happen. Another 20 percent estimate it won’t occur before 2035, with 17 percent pushing that date to 2040.

Age is a significant factor in attitudes toward electrification. While younger people are generally more receptive, their enthusiasm is cooling. Only 39 percent of respondents under 35 say they might buy an EV next, down nine points from last year. Among older age groups, the decline is smaller but still present.

The annual mobility survey, conducted between December 17, 2024, and January 13, 2025, polled 1,025 Belgians.

Company car usage

Cars, as a means of transportation, are still king and remain the dominant solution for serving mobility needs: 82 percent of Belgians rely on them, and 90 percent own at least one vehicle. Company car usage also remains strong at 21 percent, significantly above European averages.

But in the background, Belgium is inching increasingly toward a more diverse mobility model. Public transport, cycling, and walking are all gaining momentum. In cities, car use is trending downward. Only 15 percent of respondents say they drive daily in urban areas, down eight points from last year. 

Walking (72 percent) and public transit (49 percent) remain top daily options. Bicycle use is holding firm, with 39 percent using traditional bikes and 28 percent opting for electric bikes. Intent to adopt e-bikes has jumped by 8 percent, showing growing confidence in low-emission alternatives.

Polarizing e-scooters

The shift is also digital. Car sharing (13 percent) and app-based mobility services (used by 64 percent) are both climbing steadily. Business travel is also rebounding, with a 24 percent net increase in usage.

Still, some structural issues remain. Over 60 percent of respondents believe current infrastructure doesn’t support safe soft mobility, and more than half say bike and scooter riders don’t follow traffic rules. E-scooters are especially polarizing: half of respondents see them as a nuisance, with older age groups expressing the most vigorous opposition.

Ecological skepticism

Still, barriers stand in the way of a full EV transition. High prices (cited by 71 percent), a lack of home or public charging infrastructure (39 percent), limited range, and concerns about battery safety are among the top reasons people are hesitant—a quarter of respondents now cite fire risks tied to EV batteries. Ecological skepticism is also growing.

Hopes that the second-hand EV market will ease the price barrier are proving premature. Seventy-one percent of Belgians say they’re not open to buying a used electric car, largely due to concerns about battery lifespan—though real-life research shows that these concerns are unfounded.

That’s a blow to a national strategy that relies on company EVs —a category now representing 82 percent of all new EV registrations in Belgium – trickling down to the used market.