The electric car remains one of the means of transport that the Swiss intend to favor in the future, but a certain reservation is now apparent, according to a study by the gfs institute. Interest is stable compared to previous years.
The 2022 E-barometer published on Monday by the TCS and carried out by the gfs.berne polling institute among a thousand people from all over Switzerland reveals results with nuances. “Compared to previous years, the electric car has lost some of its supremacy as the means of transport of the future,” it reads, particularly in the context of fears of energy shortages.
Nevertheless, the desire to buy remains on the whole quite strong and constant. At the end of October 2022, the share of electric vehicles among new vehicle sales in Switzerland reached 49.4%.
Less enthusiastic Romands
A difference appears according to age, level of training and regions. Half of those questioned “in any case do not plan to buy an electric vehicle in the future”: for this group, the shortage and the price of electricity do not therefore influence the will to buy of this type of car.
Among those resistant to electricity, women, people with low incomes and those with a modest level of education are overrepresented, as are people from French-speaking Switzerland.
On the other hand, tendentially, men, young people and high-income motorists in German-speaking Switzerland who do not yet have an electric car still show the same intention to buy one, despite the crisis. Young people, however, expect more financial incentives and better charging infrastructure.
Of all respondents, 10% say they have postponed the idea of buying an electric vehicle for the time being.
Reserve
“Switzerland is a people of motorists. This situation remains unchanged despite the scarcity of resources and the wish to protect the climate more,” note the researchers. Half of the Swiss population (49%) has a car in the household, and 31% even has several.
While purchases of electric or hybrid vehicles continue to increase, the vast majority of Swiss people still drive a combustion engine car. About 10% of respondents own an electric car, and 4% have a plug-in hybrid.
The satisfaction rate of those who own an electric car remains “very high”.
In general, “we see a certain caution from the Swiss, who are becoming more reserved and waiting to see the developments before deciding”, commented for Keystone -ATS Sarah Wahlen, spokesperson for the TCS.
As far as modes of transport are concerned, an evolution is emerging in favor of rail and bicycles. Thus, 36% of respondents say they want to use the (conventional) bicycle “significantly more often” or “more often” in the future. This share is 34% for public transport, 28% for electric bicycles, 17% for plug-in hybrid electric cars and 4% for traditional cars.
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