Are the French wrong to shy away from electric cars?

Behind the polished speeches and stunning images, the reality is disheartening. The French fear electric vehicles.

This alarming finding is based on the 2024 edition of the Roole X Ifop Observatory titled “The French Perspective on Electric Vehicles.” The study was conducted on a representative sample of 1,002 French people, using quota sampling, through an online self-administered questionnaire on December 11 and 12, 2024.

While electric car sales in Europe declined by 5.9% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), France seems to exemplify a rather paradoxical trend. Ten years before the announced ban on the sale of combustion engine vehicles in 2035, the French remain attached to theirthermal vehicles, with 94% of households still owning at least one. Fear of change and ecological doubts severely hinder the transition to electric. And the educational efforts appear clearly to be ineffective!

Nearly 8 out of 10 French people (78%) do not plan to buy an electric vehicle, an increase compared to 2022 (68%). Among the reasons cited, the purchase cost remains a major obstacle for 47% of respondents, especially in rural areas (57%). But that’s not all; 27% doubt the ecological impact of electric vehicles, while 15% point to a lack of technological maturity. Charging infrastructure is considered insufficient, both at home (15%) and in public (14%). Additionally, 26% of the French experience apprehension or stress about switching to electric.

Another striking figure: 57% of French women consider themselves well-informed, but 61% have a negative perception of electric cars. This is clearly a failure for the media—including us—and perhaps a victory for the oil lobby… Many view these vehicles as reserved for an elite (79%) or only suitable for short trips (80%). Moreover, 86% believe their lifespan is limited by the battery. All these misconceptions hamper the transition. Conversely, these results sharply contrast with the high satisfaction expressed by electric vehicle owners.

Indeed, electric car owners report a high level of satisfaction (86%), highlighting savings on charging (88%) and maintenance (82%). They also praise the vehicle’s performance, considered superior by 42% of the French but by 82% of the users themselves. Yet, these positive points struggle to convince a still hesitant population.

How then to persuade? Still and again, through increased financial incentives such as a green bonus or a social leasing scheme (desired by 50%), and better infrastructure availability (34%), which are among the proposed solutions. However, for some, the switch to electric is motivated only by the constraints of future regulations (31%). Finally, ecological arguments are secondary for the majority: only 17% of the French believe they actively contribute to combating climate change by adopting an electric vehicle. This Roole observatory ultimately shows that the road to a successful transition remains quite long.

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