Electric driving is still mainly for high incomes

In just 7 years’ time, only zero-emission cars will be sold in the Netherlands, but for the time being electric driving is certainly not accessible to everyone. The ANWB’s Electric Driving Monitor shows that in 2022 only one percent of low-income households had an EV at their doorstep. This percentage is three percent among middle-income households, while six percent of high-income households have an EV. It is therefore not surprising that it is mainly the group of Dutch people with a high income that is considering purchasing an electric car in the coming years.

37 percent of all Dutch people say they are interested in driving electrically. According to the survey, a quarter of the Dutch people want to do this within the next five years. Only 6 percent expect to do so within two years. No less than 23 percent say they do not want to purchase an electric car at all. If we look at the income groups, 28 percent of the low-income group indicate that they are interested in driving electric. 21 percent of the low-income group expect to do so within the next five years, but only 6 percent expect to have an EV on their doorstep within two years.

The Dutch with a high income are not only more interested in electric driving (46 percent), but also expect to do this sooner. 38 percent of Dutch people with a high income expect to start driving electrically within five years. 14 percent see themselves plugging around within the next two years. The interest and purchase intention of Dutch people with a middle income also lags behind that of Dutch people with a high income. 37 percent are interested in electric driving, 28 percent expect to do so within the next five years and only 10 percent expect to make the switch to electric driving within two years.

Subsidy main conditions for electric driving

The Dutch state the existence of a subsidy as the most important condition for driving electrically. A high range is then given as the most important condition, followed by MRB exemption. After 2024, the MRB exemption for electric cars will end, and the current subsidy scheme for the purchase of a new or used electric car will also expire in 2024.

In addition, the Dutch give the high price of electric driving as the biggest condition for not driving electric. Not being able to charge the car at home and a range that is too small are also given as important reasons not to drive electrically.

Willing to pay more for an electric car

In general, the Dutch are willing to pay more money for a new or used electric car than for a new or used car with a petrol engine. In 2022, the amount that the Dutch are willing to pay for a new EV, at an average of €29,035, will be 17 percent higher than the amount that the Dutch are willing to pay for a new car with a petrol engine. The average person is willing to pay €12,997 for a second-hand electric car, 21 percent more than for a used petrol car (€10,749).