‘Once electricity, always electricity’: Here are how many electric car owners stick with their choice

The reasons are mostly practical. The EV is quiet and ‘smooth’ in city driving, there are no gear changes, and the heating or cooling of the cabin can be switched on before departure. For many, it is crucial that most of the charging is done at home or at work, so ‘charging up’ is no longer a special stop on the route, but a routine that happens while you sleep. There are still frustrations about public filling stations and travel, but apparently not so strong that the majority would want to return to the classic drive.

It is also important that this is an American study, so the context is different from Europe, from electricity prices to the network of charging stations and the habits of the train. But a similar pattern can be seen more widely: a global survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance from 2024 showed that 92% of drivers plan to get an electric car again, and only a small part said they would return to gasoline or diesel. In other words, the story of ‘disappointment’ after purchase is not dominant among people who buy EVs. they drive, although the debate surrounding the transition to electricity continues to break down on price and infrastructure.

It is therefore interesting for Europe that this trend could further push the market of used EVs. As more and more electric cars come out of leasing and fleet contracts, the offer of used ones grows, and with it the chance that EVs become a more realistic choice for people who do not buy a new car. If the expansion of filling stations and the standardization of payments continue, the new choice in households could become electric the fastest in the second-hand market.