A survey conducted by energy company E.ON has found that the main reason drivers in Germany are switching to fully electric cars is the lower energy costs associated with these vehicles. The survey, which polled 1,000 drivers, revealed that 59% of respondents cited lower costs as their primary motivation for making the switch, while 53% stated that climate protection was a factor in their decision.
The survey also found that other cost-related factors played a significant role in the decision to go electric. Some 43% of respondents reported that lower maintenance costs, taxes, and parking fees were important considerations. Interestingly, around half of the respondents had initially been concerned about the limited range of electric cars, but these concerns dissipated after they had made a purchase.
“Uncertainties and reservations about electromobility are often felt by those who have not yet had the opportunity to test an e-car for themselves,” said Jens Michael Peters, managing director for energy solutions and e-mobility at E.ON Germany. “The high registration figures for e-cars in the first half of 2025, and our surveys, demonstrate e-mobility in practice and show growing acceptance and trust.”
The survey also highlighted a trend among families towards combining electric vehicles with home solar energy systems. Some 82% of e-car drivers with children at home already owned a photovoltaic system, with a further 9% planning to install one within the next three years. Families were more likely to switch to electric vehicles for cost reasons, with 64% citing this as their motivation, compared to the average of 59% across all respondents.
Despite the growing adoption of electric vehicles, Germany still faces significant challenges in meeting its EV targets. The country is currently far from achieving the previous government’s goal of having 15 million EVs on the road by 2030, following a 27% reduction in sales of new battery electric cars in 2024. In response to these challenges, the German car industry has called for the EU’s 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles to be reversed.
