Travel Behavior and Electric Mobility in Germany: Is the Problem the Driving Range, Costs, or Both?

A reluctance to switch to electric vehicles is observed in various countries despite national efforts to promote them. The question of whether electric cars are capable of meeting daily mobility requirements in Germany is investigated. The analysis is based on data from the German Mobility Panel Survey from 1995 to 2010 and the travel survey of 2009 and 2010 for the Stuttgart, Germany, area and combines a long-term travel behavior analysis with a region-specific verification. The focus is on individuals who exclusively drive a car and walk during the day and who rely on the car as a primary means of transport. For this group, the determinants of the decision to drive an internal combustion engine vehicle versus a battery electric vehicle (BEV) are analyzed, with a focus on driving range and energy costs. Results of the analysis suggest that around 80% of all daily travel by car drivers could be done with currently available models of electric cars and that charging them only at night would be sufficient in most cases. Therefore, the driving range of BEVs cannot be the restricting factor. In contrast, the current cost structure of BEVs (high investment cost, low energy cost) is not favorable for the large share of drivers with low annual mileage because the high investment cost is not compensated for by low operation costs. In the Stuttgart region, drivers from the suburbs would benefit most from such energy cost savings; however, city dwellers would need other cost structures or incentives to switch to BEVs.