Stuttgart, 25.11.2024

EV Satisfaction Study 2024

USCALE conducts first European country comparison on satisfaction with electric vehicles: EV drivers are not all the same

Changing in the vehicle market towards electric mobility is a hot topic for drivers in all countries. The new technology and how to use it correctly, must be familiarised across all countries. From route planning to operating a charging infrastructure, old habits and personal behaviours must be adapted. There are significant differences between the various markets, the market research company USCALE has identified for the first time, in a comparative study between Germany, France and the UK.

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Germany, the UK and France have similar driving habits. Nevertheless, their opinion of their electric vehicles differs considerably. While a whole range of technical functions are important to German EV drivers, when evaluating an electric car, drivers in France mainly focus on range. British EV drivers are somewhere in between in their judgement: Range is more important to them than to German EV drivers, but unlike the French, they take a more critical look at specific functions, such as ease of use and interaction of the vehicle with a connecting app.

These are the findings of the first cross-country satisfaction analysis carried out by the market research company USCALE. The study investigated whether consumers set the same priorities across countries and if car makers and service providers should design their products differently regarding the individual markets.

A comparison of the three countries clearly shows that German drivers pay close attention to the technical details and the design of technical concepts. When asked about the greatest potential for improvement, German EV drivers cite all technical features. For example: The charging speed is currently just as important as the range of the vehicle. German drivers also see a great need for action in the connective app, route planning and software quality. The British drivers, on the other hand, see the greatest need for action in the vehicle’s range, the charging time and energy consumption. Functions such as charging management and route planning are viewed as less critical. Among French EV drivers almost two thirds criticise the range. Consumption, charging time and the functionality of the vehicle’s connection app are of almost secondary importance. Apparently, the French drivers are largely tolerant with the technology, which is still less mature regarding EV use, than drivers used to combustion vehicles.

When specifically asked about problems that respondents had in their daily use of their vehicles, the topics differed less. Respondents from all three markets listed charging problems, noise, and the performance of the connectivity app among the top four. However, there are two noticeable differences: German EV drivers have the most difficulties with charging. British and French drivers don’t experience many charging problems with but significantly and more frequently complain about the eco mode and how it supports range increase.

USCALE conducted the country comparison between June and September 2024. Over 8,500 drivers of complete battery powered electric vehicles were recruited via social media channels and access panels and asked about their preferences and experiences when using their electric vehicles in everyday life

Quote.

Dr Axel Sprenger, founder and Managing Director of USCALE GmbH:

„As the same vehicles are sold in all the countries and the infrastructure is also comparable, the results are surprising. The country comparison clearly shows different consumer perceptions and different priorities when assessing an electric car. Both vehicle manufacturers and service partners should bear this in mind when they engage in the markets,“

The press handout with graphics can be found HERE.
You can find an overview of all course contents HERE.
You can find a picture of Axel Sprenger HERE.

Company Abstract

USCALE is a consulting and market research company for electromobility based in Stuttgart, Germany. USCALE’s work is based on customer insights studies on all touchpoints of the e-mobility customer journey. USCALE is the only provider to has a panel specialising in e-mobility with over 10,000 panellists. Through its surveys, USCALE makes the customer perspective tangible for managers, developers, and service providers in the operational business.

Contact

USCALE GmbH, Silberburgstraße 112, 70176 Stuttgart, GERMANY, contact@uscale.digital