News & Events

Preferences of Czechs for electric cars

April 3, 2019 The study summarizes the results of a questionnaire survey conducted in the Czech Republic.

The survey focused on public perceptions and purchase of electric vehicles of people who intend to buy a car within the next three years. In the first part, we present the results of interviewing of a representative sample of the adult population (n=1215) out of that 43 % plan to buy a car within next three years.

Most (72%) people planning to buy a car within the next three years believe they would pay much more money for an electric car than for a car with a combustion engine. Apart from the financial aspect, electric vehicles are perceived positively in many ways. Approximately 78% of respondents who plan to buy a car believe that electric vehicles are less noisy, more environmentally friendly and emit less CO2.
However, most of them expect within three years there will only be a limited number of service stations for electric vehicles in the Czech Republic (64%), only a few public charging stations will be available in the Czech Republic (64%) and battery life will be shorter than 8 years (58%).

In the second part, we analyse responses from 2, 518 people planning to buy a car within the next three years. Under the current conditions (year 2017), 12% of these respondents are considering buying a hybrid or electric car (2.4% of respondents consider buying an electric car, 1.6% a plug-in hybrid vehicle and almost 5% a hybrid car).

Lowering the purchase price of an electric car or its operating costs, improvement of technical characteristics and provision of additional benefits when purchasing an electric car increase the likelihood of an electric vehicle being considered or actually chosen. The proportion of people choosing an electric vehicle could increase by approximately 0.5% if there was a purchase price discount of CZK 100,000. However, for respondents who are already considering buying a hybrid or an electric car, this effect is 2.7 - 6.2 percentage points for every CZK 100,000 price reduction.

People who plan to buy a car are willing to pay for a more fuel-efficient car: CZK 52,000 more on average for a reduction in operating costs of CZK 1 per 1 km for a new car and CZK 46,000 more for a more fuel-efficient used car.

The driving range of electric vehicles is very important. Respondents are willing to pay CZK 28,000 more for an increase in driving range of 100 km that implies CZK 140,000 for an increase of 500 km.
Battery-charging time is another important factor. People with the intention would appreciate the slow-mode recharging time is shortened to less than 4 hours. Fast-mode recharging time does not affect consumers’ vehicle choice.

In addition to subsidies for electric vehicle purchase, financial support for electrical wiring in households and free parking in cities would stimulate the purchase of electric vehicles. A free motorway toll sticker has a small influence on electric vehicle purchase and only in the used-car segment. Special traffic lane availability has no effect. People would accept a approx. CZK 40 000 higher price for a new electric car for each of these incentives that they prefer. The purchase price may be higher by 12-15 thousands CZK for each relevant incentive for the used-car segment.

Information provided about emission reduction would motivate consumers to purchase electric vehicles. Willingness to pay is about 26-40 thousands CZK for each 20% emission reduction relative to emission volumes released by a conventional vehicle. Respondents are indifferent whether information clarifies the reductions in air quality or CO2 emissions.

The improvement of several electric car characteristics significantly increases the likelihood of raising electric cars’ market share. If the purchase price of an electric car was an additional 50% higher than the purchase price of a conventional car, extra benefits were provided, operating costs reduced to CZK 50 per 100 km and driving range was 500 km, the market share of electric vehicles on all newly registered vehicles could increase from current 0.14% to 8%.

The full study is available in Czech only. The abstract can be downloaded here.