Consider buying an electric car. Half of the Motorpasión readers who participated in the 'Electric Car Observatory' prepared by Motorpasión based on our 2023 survey, answered yes. But the other half, no.
And the readers surveyed who have not even considered going from thermal or hybrid to 100% electric point to three main reasons: price, autonomy, and inconveniences related to charging. More than 60% of the answers point to these three aspects as an essential brake to take this step.
The obstacles that are imposed on the benefits: they are expensive and with less autonomy than a thermal
More than 1,000 readers participated in this new survey launched last May: 50% answered negatively to the big question of whether they had considered buying an electric car. And there are three obstacles that are imposed on the rest and that are identical to other studies with zero emissions in the equation.
Electric cars are still expensive. The main of these reasons is the price: zero emissions continue to have a very high price. And 23% of these readers have indicated this as the main reason.
Taking a quick look at the current market, it is rare to find electric cars under 40,000 euros. And, in any case, they are significantly more expensive than their gasoline or diesel equivalent and can double their price or even more. This, is in a context in which cars in general are more expensive than a decade ago due to the inclusion of more technology, among other reasons.
Few 100% electric cars are offered today that do not exceed 30,000 euros: an example is the Dacia Spring (between 21,700 euros and 23,400 euros), but it is also one of the most limited in terms of power or autonomy (up to 65 CV and 220km). Another example is the MG 4, more capable but more than 28,200 euros. What increases the price of an electric car the most?: the battery.
They do not offer enough kilometers between charges. And the other great aspect that slows down your purchase the most is autonomy, which many readers still consider very limited for daily use or to cover long distances. 21% have indicated this as another essential reason.
"Electric ones are not at the same level of versatility of use as combustion or hybrid ones; in a society in which time is money, they condition the user's range of movement too much, mainly due to real autonomy and charging times "replied one of the respondents.
To this is added the gap between real autonomy and that published by car brands, which is usually the maximum in the WLTP cycle: in the best conditions in terms of occupants, loaded trunk, or optimal temperature, among other aspects. But they do not usually detail the minimum, which is what is necessary to know the real autonomy of each model and which is affected by elements such as outside temperature, air conditioning, or driving style.
At the moment, the most capable, according to their approved data, is between 600 and 650 km. Less than many thermals.
Few charging points. And the third major obstacle to embarking on the purchase of an electric car, or simply considering it, is the inconvenience of charging. The vast majority, 15%, indicates that the charging network is still deficient.
According to data from Anfac (the employers' association of manufacturers in our country), the current network in Spain is currently around 20,000 points. "In Spain above all, the lack of infrastructure (chargers, independent workshops, etc.), which will not be solved at the same rate as the increase in production of electric ones, does not make it easier for electric ones to be viable for the majority of the population, "says a reader.
And likewise, although to a lesser extent, 7% consider that the loading speed is another of the impediments. Again according to Anfac, in Spain, only 4% of public points are high power (150 kW or more). This means longer charging times, far removed from what it means to refuel a thermal. A lock that can be saved more or less on shorter journeys, but not on long journeys. And to this, we must add the speed at which the electric car systems themselves charge.
Know about the actual use of an electric car. Essentially, in this survey, readers point out that there is not enough information to advise them on a change as drastic as going from a thermal to an electric one.
Something that we precisely want to help with our new tool: the 'Motorpasión electric car recommender'.
We launched this initiative to offer answers by collecting the habitual uses and preferences of each driver and what they ask of their future electric car, to give all the possible answers from recommended models to savings with respect to their gasoline car, charging points, aid or cost of installing a charger.
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