the French less and less convinced

This survey is timely, ten years before the ban on the sale in Europe of new vehicles emitting CO2. At the request of Roole, a car club which offers additional insurance, guidance apps and online media, Ifop looked into the relationship between motorists and electric cars.

And one of the main lessons of this study (1) never tires of questioning: as the January 2035 deadline approaches, the share of respondents who think of purchasing one of these vehicles in the years to coming decreases. It went from 32% in 2022 to 22% in 2024.

This survey, which The Cross published exclusively, comes to objectify an ambient noise which, for months, has shown a lack of confidence with regard to the electric car. When asked what feeling is associated with the idea of ​​acquiring one, the majority of respondents speak of indifference (35%). More overtly negative feelings – apprehension (26%), even stress (14%) – are also widespread. Only a quarter of those questioned expressed a positive feeling: curiosity for 19% of them, pride for barely 6%.

Little support for the 2035 objective

We find this state of mind when we ask them about the Europeans' desire to ban, in ten years, the marketing of new thermal cars. The vast majority of French people (70%, or 3 points more than in 2023) consider that this is rather a bad decision (34%), or even a very bad one (36%). Conversely, only 7% are fully convinced that this is a very good decision.

Nearly six in ten French people consider themselves well informed about electric cars. “It will be all the more difficult to change their minds,” notes Jérôme Fourquet, one of the directors of Ifop.

“To try it is to adopt it”

However, on many aspects, their opinion differs greatly from that of motorists who have already switched to this engine and who say they are 86% satisfied with their vehicle. This is particularly true for the cost per use. Only 52% of all respondents think that charging is cheaper than filling up with gasoline, compared to 88% of electric vehicle drivers. Likewise, almost half as many (45% versus 88%) believe that car maintenance is less expensive in the case of an electric one.

This gap also applies to the perception of the technical performance of electric cars: 82% of their users assure that acceleration and driving comfort are superior to those of thermal vehicles, which the others, with 58%, strongly doubt. of contrary opinion on the entire panel. Which made Jérôme Fourquet say: “To try it is to adopt it. »

Received ideas and psychological obstacles

The trend is clearly towards“wait and see”, particularly because only a small majority of French people (56%) see electricity as an effective solution for reducing CO2 emissions. Because, also, analyzes the sounder, “governmental policy, concerning purchasing aid or social leasing (“the €100 car”), is constantly changing.”

“Many preconceived ideas and psychological obstacles persist”, extends Jonathan Tuchbant, the managing director of Roole. Eight out of ten French people, for example, are convinced that electric cars are reserved for motorists who do not make long journeys. However, within the panel, drivers who opted for electric drive almost as much as the others (11,000 km per year, compared to 12,000 km). “And among the new models, many offer 500 to 700 kilometers of autonomy. »

“Experience your car a little differently”

The issue of recharging attracts a lot of attention. Among the aspects likely to convince the French to convert to electric, reduced charging time and greater availability and better reliability of terminals come in second and third place.

“The fear of not being able to calmly travel a long distance remains significant, while the territory is now dotted with fast or ultra-fast terminals, points out Jonathan Tuchbant. Certainly, we may have to stop for another quarter of an hour on a highway rest area when we go on vacation. It's about adopting other habits, experiencing your car a little differently. to succeed in the ecological transition. »

The argument which, more than any other, would be likely to accelerate the conversion, lies in a higher amount of purchasing aid. “The reduction in the ecological bonus has had a negative effect”, comments the general manager of Roole. Even if he notes that the tightening of the penalty for thermal models and the arrival on the market of more accessible models tend to reduce the price gap between electric and thermal.

A geographical divide

This survey, in any case, highlights a geographical divide: “29% of residents of the Paris metropolitan area are considering purchasing an electric car in the near future, compared to only 14% of respondents living in rural areas. underlines Jonathan Tuchbant. A social divide, too, to a lesser extent, since the proportion of potential buyers is 22% in the popular categories, compared to 27% in the upper classes. »

After the passage to 80 km/h on certain secondary roads and the increase in the tax on fuel which contributed to the birth of the yellow vests, the objective of a conversion to electric returns to the forefront what Jérôme Fourquet calls “the people of the road”, made up of French people who have little choice but to take their car to get around on a daily basis.

The car, a very political object

The RN understood this well. During the last European elections, he did not hesitate to transform into a campaign argument the challenge to the 2035 objective, presented as a Brussels diktat and a bohemian measure.

Even if it means maintaining the vagueness, and suggesting that we will soon no longer be able to drive thermally, when it means prohibiting the marketing of new gasoline, diesel or hybrid vehicles. “Result: during the vote, the third of French people who say they are little or not dependent on the car voted 28% for Jordan Bardella, while the third of those who say they are very dependent on their car opted 56% for his list”, reminds the sounder.

“The car promises to be a more political object than ever”, anticipates Jérôme Fourquet. Because the transition to electricity – while creating new jobs in the production of batteries or the installation of terminals – is shaking up the automobile industry and its 13 million employees in Europe, who are anxiously seeing the rise of Chinese competition ahead in the field of electricity.

——

In Europe too, electric is slowing down, hybrid is accelerating

In 2024, on a continental scale, The share of electric vehicles in new registrations fell by one point to 13.6%, despite an encouraging 15.9% for the month of December alone, according to figures from the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers, published Tuesday, January 21.

In a slowing global market, up 0.8% (10.6 million units sold), non-rechargeable hybrids recorded strong growth to reach 30.9% market share, while plug-in hybrids stood at 7.1%. Both outperform gasoline models (33.3%). Diesels are at 11.9%.