- The French are still very reluctant to switch to electric cars, according to an Ifop survey for Sixt
- The main barriers to purchase are price, range and availability of charging stations
- The environmental benefits of the electric car are not perceived as sufficient to compensate for these disadvantages
Is the electric car conquering the hearts of the French? Not really, according to a survey carried out by Ifop for the rental company Sixt, published on April 16, 2023. According to this study, only 27% of French people are seriously considering buying an electric vehiclea figure down from last year.
However, the arguments in favor of the electric car are not lacking: an increasingly varied range of models, financial aid from the State of up to 7000 euros, a reduction in CO2 emissions and noise pollution. … But these advantages do not seem to be enough to convince French motorists, who remain attached to their thermal car.
What are the obstacles that hinder the adoption of the electric car? The Ifop survey identifies three main ones: the price, range and availability of charging stations.
Electric car: always the same brakes
The price remains the first criterion of choice for the French when buying a car. However, electric vehicles are still significantly more expensive than thermal vehicles, even taking into account public aid.
The average additional cost is estimated at 10,000 euros for a new electric car. A difference which is not compensated by the savings made on fuel or maintenance in the eyes of the French.
Autonomy stands out as the second obstacle to purchasing. Accustomed to being able to travel several hundred kilometers without having to refuel, the French are reluctant to adopt new habits.
With an electric car, you have to recharge the battery regularly, which involves planning routes and adapting trips. For some motorists, the average range of electric cars sold in France (around 300 km) is perceived as insufficient.
Finally, the availability of charging stations is the third obstacle to the purchase of an electric vehicle. The French are afraid of not easily finding a charging point when traveling, especially over long distances or in rural areas, explains Ifop in its study.
With approximately 100,000 charging points for more than 40 million vehicles, the network of charging stations remains insufficient even if it is developing very quickly. More than the availability of the terminals, the power and compatibility of the terminals vary according to the operators, which complicates access to the service.
Faced with these drawbacks, the French are not convinced by the environmental benefits of the electric car. For 42% of them, it is not an effective solution to combat global warming. They highlight in particular the negative impact of the production of batteries, which requires rare and polluting raw materials, and the use of fossil energy sources to power the terminals.
The French are therefore still far from being seduced by the electric car, despite the efforts of manufacturers and public authorities to promote this technology. It will undoubtedly take time, innovation and, above all, price reductions to remove the barriers to purchasing and change mentalities.
