DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) – Electric vehicles are gaining traction. In a Forsa survey commissioned by Targobank, 21 percent of respondents indicated a preference for a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) as their next car. This represents a four-percentage-point increase compared to the 2024 and 2025 surveys, where the figure stood at 17 percent in both years.
According to the survey, electric cars have climbed to second place in the popularity rankings among German drivers. Only gasoline-powered vehicles rank higher at 29 percent (down two percentage points). Hybrid vehicles remain unchanged at 19 percent, while diesel also holds steady at 14 percent. Hydrogen-powered cars remain a niche market at one percent, with the remainder of respondents undecided. The survey results, which Forsa deems representative, were based on responses from 933 adult motorists. A total of 1,021 drivers participated, though 88 of them had ruled out purchasing a car altogether.
Concerns are easing
Those reluctant to purchase an electric vehicle frequently cited high acquisition costs, insufficient range, a deficient charging infrastructure, charging times, and limited battery lifespan as primary reasons. Some respondents also expressed concerns regarding the environmental impact of electric cars, pointing to raw material extraction and disposal issues. However, such reservations have weakened compared to the previous year’s survey.
Markus Häring, head of Targobank Autobank, viewed the growing acceptance of EVs as a significant market signal. Forsa conducted the online survey during the first half of February, prior to the outbreak of the war in Iran, which led to a sharp increase in gasoline and diesel prices at the pump. Electric vehicle drivers are unaffected by these price hikes. Consequently, interest in EVs may now be even higher than the survey initially indicated./wdw/DP/zb
