Foto: KfW

eMove360° Study Tip – KfW Research: Electric Cars Are Gaining Momentum

Electric cars are gaining momentum. The global share of EVs has more than doubled in three years, meaning one in five new cars sold was already electric. That’s the conclusion of a recent study by KfW Research.

Developments in Germany are positive as well. The share of pure electric cars in Germany’s auto exports has risen to 27 percent. In the first quarter, an average of 82,000 battery-electric vehicles worth €3.4 billion were exported per month. The value of exports thus exceeds the value of imports by a factor of five.

There has also been a steady increase in the share of pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids among new registrations in Germany since early 2024. Current figures for the second quarter show an EV share of 29 percent of new registrations, compared with under 20 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

“The signs of a further upswing in electromobility in Germany are mounting. Both climate protection and the German automotive industry could benefit from further electrification,” says Dr. Johannes Rode, Senior Economist at KfW Research and co-author of the study.

According to the KfW Energy Transition Barometer, about half of the households surveyed (49 percent) are open to using an electric car. Ten percent already own an electrically powered car. However, only three percent of households plan to purchase an electric car in the next year—the lowest figure in recent years. Thirty-seven percent categorically reject owning one, and eight percent would only drive an electric car if no other powertrains were available.

Overall, reservations about electric cars have decreased over time. While the purchase price remains the most frequently cited reason against buying an EV (59 percent), concerns about charging infrastructure dropped from 72 percent five years ago to 51 percent. Worries about range also declined over this period, from 54 percent to 44 percent. Likewise, only 30 percent now view charging times as an obstacle—down from nearly 50 percent previously.

Doubts about environmental friendliness were the reason almost one in two households chose not to buy an EV in 2020. In 2025, this applies to only 34 percent of households.

This decline aligns with an improved environmental balance for EVs, driven in part by increased charging with renewable electricity. In fact, more than one-third of charging electricity—36 percent—recently came from self-generated green power, a record figure. A further 44 percent was purchased as green electricity from external providers.

“It remains important to support the market ramp-up of electric cars in Germany,” recommends KfW economist Rode. “Information gaps regarding EV safety should be reduced, incentives for time-optimized charging should be created, and charging options in multi-family buildings should be simplified.”

The data on household attitudes toward electric cars are based on the KfW Energy Transition Barometer 2025, an annual, nationally representative survey of around 4,000 to 6,000 private households in Germany on decisions and attitudes related to climate protection. In 2025, 5,119 households were surveyed. More information on the KfW Energy Transition Barometer: https://www.kfw.de; www.kfw.de/nachhaltig-mobil

 

This study tip appeared in the eMove360° Magazine in German language. Get the free downloadable PDF or order the print version for only $39.90 (four issues per year) here.