A new Belgian snapshot from the Europ Assistance Mobility Barometer seems to confirm a familiar narrative: a majority of Belgians (62%) say they are not yet prepared to choose a fully electric car as their next vehicle.

But beyond the headline figures, the survey reveals a more fundamental gap between perception and reality that continues to shape Europe’s EV transition. It is also worth noting that the survey was conducted in mid-January, before renewed geopolitical tensions involving Iran pushed oil prices upward again.

That timing matters, as consumer attitudes toward electric mobility have historically proven highly sensitive to fuel costs, suggesting that the level of hesitation captured here may not be entirely fixed if prices at the pump rise significantly.

Only 38% considering the switch

According to the barometer, 38% of Belgians say they would consider choosing a fully electric car for their next vehicle.

The hesitation becomes even more pronounced in the second-hand market, with 74% saying they would not consider buying a used EV. Among them, nearly half point to concerns about battery reliability, alongside budget constraints and a general reluctance toward second-hand purchases.

Cost emerges as the dominant barrier throughout the survey. Some 60% of respondents believe public authorities are not doing enough to financially support the transition, while 45% would like direct purchase subsidies and around a quarter point to tax incentives as a potential lever.

Beyond the vehicle itself, 71% cite additional costs—such as installing a home charging point or adapting their property—as a significant obstacle.

Charging infrastructure is also frequently perceived as insufficient, though this perception does not fully reflect reality nationwide. In regions such as Flanders, the public charging network has expanded rapidly and is generally considered adequate for everyday use. More decisive for many households is access to home charging, which remains uneven and continues to influence willingness to switch.

Yet a closer look at purchase intentions suggests a more nuanced picture beneath the headline figures. Among Belgians who intend to buy a car within the next 12 months, interest in electrification appears significantly stronger than overall sentiment suggests.

Some 72% say they would consider at least one electric vehicle, with 31% saying they would “certainly” do so. At the same time, an identical share still considers a combustion-engine car, underlining that for most buyers, electric is not yet a default choice but one option among several.

This duality helps explain the apparent contradiction in the survey. While many hesitate to fully commit to electric driving, a large share remains open to it alongside other options, weighing cost, convenience, and perceived risks.

Not happening before 2035?

The survey also highlights a broader ambivalence toward mobility policy. Only 32% of Belgians say they are enthusiastic about current political measures promoting sustainable mobility, while 40% remain cautious.

Expectations around the transition are equally moderate, with a significant share of respondents believing a full shift to electric mobility will not happen before 2035, or even later. At the same time, the easing of the European Union’s 2035 zero-emission target is viewed positively by 54% of Belgians, underscoring the extent to which the transition remains uncertain or premature.

Gap between perception and reality

What the barometer ultimately captures is less a rejection of electric mobility than a snapshot of consumer beliefs. Many of the barriers cited reflect a persistent gap between perception and reality.

The focus on upfront purchase price, for instance, overlooks total cost of ownership, where electric vehicles are increasingly competitive due to lower running and maintenance costs. Similarly, concerns about battery degradation remain widespread despite growing real-world evidence that modern EV batteries last significantly longer than initially expected and may even outlast the vehicle itself.

This perception gap is not solely the responsibility of consumers. Carmakers and policymakers have struggled to articulate a clear and consistent value proposition, while the coexistence of electric and combustion technologies continues to blur the transition narrative. At the same time, structural barriers such as affordability, housing conditions, and access to private charging mean that hesitation cannot be reduced to misunderstanding alone.

Another element that puts some of the perceived barriers into perspective is daily driving behaviour. The barometer shows that commuting distances remain relatively limited: in Belgium, 88% of respondents travel less than 50 kilometres to work or study on a typical day.

This aligns closely with the European average and suggests that, in practical terms, range limitations are unlikely to be a decisive constraint for most drivers. Yet concerns about range and charging availability continue to weigh on consumer perception, further illustrating the gap between real-world usage patterns and how electric mobility is perceived.

Impact of energy prices

What remains largely absent from the survey, however, is the impact of energy prices—and how Belgian sentiment compares with broader European trends.

At the European level, the same barometer shows that interest in electric vehicles has slightly declined, with only 27% of Europeans considering an EV purchase, down from 31% two years earlier, suggesting a plateau in adoption.

At the same time, the private car remains dominant, with 86% of Europeans owning at least one, even as a majority say they have adapted their mobility habits toward more sustainable alternatives. This combination of slow behavioural change and persistent dependence on the car mirrors the Belgian picture.

Yet Belgium also presents a specific dynamic that the survey does not fully capture. Driven largely by the rapid electrification of company cars, the country has in recent years become one of the frontrunners in Europe for EV uptake in new registrations.

This creates a growing gap between market reality and consumer sentiment: while private buyers remain hesitant, a significant share of drivers is already transitioning to electric mobility through corporate fleets, which will gradually feed into the second-hand market.

Attitudes can shift

Recent developments also show how quickly attitudes can shift when fuel costs rise. Since the escalation of the Iran conflict, fuel prices have increased sharply, with EU petrol prices rising by around 12% to €1.84 per liter, while in Belgium diesel has climbed above €2.10 per liter in recent weeks.

This is already triggering behavioural signals: across Europe, EV search volumes have risen by up to 50%, while used EV sales have nearly doubled within weeks. Analysts note that such shifts tend to accelerate once fuel prices cross key psychological thresholds.

Around €2 per liter, the cost difference becomes clearer; beyond roughly €2.20 to €2.50 per liter, the total cost advantage of electric driving becomes difficult to ignore, and behaviour changes more decisively. In that sense, the Europ Assistance barometer captures a moment of hesitation that may prove more fluid than it initially appears.

It shows a population that is not rejecting electric mobility, but waiting for clearer financial incentives, lower perceived risks, and conditions that make the transition both economically and practically obvious. If oil prices rise further, that balance could shift faster than the survey suggests.