The societal acceptance of private electro mobility in Germany and its perception by consumers: An empirical analysis of the status quo and the medium-term future expectations

The combustion engine has a history of development for far more than 100 years. The last few decades has resulted in an increasing interest in electro mobility and can be described as a new technology era regarding road transport. Due to climate changes and the growing scarcity of energy resources, countries and cities are constantly trying to reduce CO2 emissions. Road transport is considered to be a large part of these emissions. The majority of vehicle manufacturers (such as BMW, Volkswagen and Renault) as well as new entrants such as Tesla are developing and realizing EVs with high speed. The following study recaptures the acceptance of private electro mobility in Germany. Potential users associate EVs with driving pleasure and fun. On the other hand, top speed is not considered to be a critical argument for purchasing an EV. Nowadays users place increasing importance on environmentally friendliness (which can be described as a “lifestyle" nowadays) and cost efficiency. The typical EV customer is considered to be technique affine with a modern lifestyle. These users are ready to pay a higher purchasing price for an EV, however are not yet willing to pay the current market prices which are demanded. Furthermore, the research summarizes the disadvantages of EVs which affect the consumer demand, such as the current charging infrastructure which is perceived as not fully developed yet. Additionally, individuals criticized security standards of EVs, as long term tests have not been conducted sufficiently, especially regarding the liability of both the electric engine and lithium-ion batteries. It is of great importance for EV manufacturers to work on improving the range and the purchasing cost. Concluding, the overall willingness of purchasing an EV in the future as well as to date is considered to be high. However, in the foreseeable future, the internal combustion engine will keep its importance.