Only a third of Belgians (36%) consider the switch to 100% electric mobility to be realistic by 2035, according to the second Mobility Barometer from Europ Assistance on Wednesday. The cost of an electric vehicle is still a major obstacle, certainly in this period of rising inflation.
At the end of October, Europe reached an agreement in principle to legislate on the end of the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035. However, Germany has recently questioned this compromise, whose final approval is postponed.
The majority of Belgians do not believe in the total change of the car fleet towards electric for this deadline, in particular the rural population (69%). Half of city dwellers (53%) believe, on the contrary, that this objective can be achieved in time.
Young people more optimistic
Young people (under 35) are also more optimistic regarding this transition (50%) than the oldest, with only 24% of those over 55 granting credit there.
However, several obstacles remain to the purchase of an electric car. The purchasing power of many households has indeed taken a hit following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rise in energy prices and the resulting inflation.
Respondents are therefore expecting a financial boost from the public authorities, mainly via purchase aid (acclaimed by 31%) and a tax reduction (17%). A reduction in road tax (12%) is less popular. In general, six out of ten Belgians believe that the government does not help motorists enough to support the transition to electric motors.
