A survey of electric vehicle owners shows that a majority of them regret their choice. The increase in electricity prices, but above all the lack of transparency in pricing, has played a significant role.
On August 1, 2023, the tariff shield took a hit in our country, with a 10% increase in the price of electricity in France, and these prices could skyrocket in 2024. Another piece of bad news for our citizens, including electric vehicle users for whom the price of electricity is obviously crucial.
Charging an electric vehicle is becoming increasingly expensive…
According to a survey conducted by the Danish startup Monta (present in France since early 2023, specializing in charging station management) and published by YouGov, 54% of electric vehicle owners say they regret their purchase of a fully electric vehicle. This regret is not strictly related to the increase in electricity prices in our country but more precisely to the opacity that, according to the respondents, prevails in the electric charging market (where the increase in accessible charging stations in our country is undeniable). Electric vehicle owners in this survey specifically point out a lack of transparency and information. And more precisely, these points listed below, according to the study:
- Price: The charging rate varies depending on the charging stations, and the driver only knows the final amount at the end of the charging time.
- Offer: It is difficult to easily find out where the best price options are located.
- Accessibility: It is still often complex to access the most advantageous charging point unless you download a dedicated application or are a customer of a mobility operator. Or even the owner of a specific vehicle brand.
More surprisingly, regarding the increase in electricity prices in France since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, our fellow citizens are rather satisfied with the prices being charged (likely due to the tariff shield put in place by the government until the end of the current year). Thus, 62% of them do not find market prices unfair, according to the same survey. In other words, it seems that the practices of private companies deploying electric vehicle charging stations are the ones being criticized in this study, especially for their lack of pricing transparency and the difficulties in easily determining the best charging rates. Finally, the same survey indicates that only 22% of French drivers are currently willing to give up their gasoline or diesel vehicles for an electric car.
