Electric cars can be used for daily mobility, especially for the journey to work. An average electric car has a range of 100 km, even in unfavourable weather, while only 2 % of the users surveyed travelled longer distances on their way to work. Accordingly, 98 % of the users can use an electric car without any problem for their journey to work.

Although most of those surveyed drive less than 100 km a day, nearly two fifths of them indicate that electric vehicles would require a range of over 200 kilometres in order to be something that they would consider. It seems that a change in mobility behaviour is required, which ought to be conveyed to the potential users of the future.

For short distances, pedelecs are an alternative to the car, as 36 % of those surveyed travel a distance of 5 km or less to work. The data analysis shows that for their daily journey to work nearly half of all respondents could use a pedelec. The users of the Rhine-Main model region were very enthusiastic about the project and return rates were therefore practically 100 %. Using standardised questionnaires, a total of 399 users were surveyed. Taking initial, interim and final surveys together, 648 completed questionnaires were returned.

The users’ positive expectations were largely fulfilled during the test period. However, only a few users are prepared to accept the high additional cost currently charged for an electric vehicle. Consequently many otherwise enthusiastic users would not make the switch. For example, of 146 people surveyed only around one sixth are prepared to bear additional costs of 20 % or more than the price of a car with an internal combustion engine.

Funding Code
03KP556A-C