Electric cars are not yet equally available to everyone. That is the result of International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) new monitor. However, targeted programs such as alternative financing models can significantly facilitate access for broader groups of society.
For the second year in a row, the ICCT-Monitor “Electromobility and Social Participation” analyses the German car market from a social perspective, with a focus on electric cars. One important finding is that socially oriented political measures can help address inequalities and enable more people to switch to electric cars.
Examples include incentives for the purchase of new and used electric cars. These should be tailored to specific target groups and consider factors such as income, mobility restrictions or residence size, as well as alternative financing models for people with limited financial resources. International examples like the program “Social Leasing” launched by the French Government, provide points of reference for political measures. Commuters with below-average incomes benefited from reduced leasing rates.
“The socially just transition to electromobility is not an automatic process, but a political task,” says Dr. Lars Grotewold, Director Centre for Climate Action at Stiftung Mercator. Considering significant income differences and an increased financial burden on many households, a mix of different support and information programs are necessary to enable all social groups access to electronic vehicles. “Only then, there is a chance that a broad social majority will support this process.”
The latest findings make it clear: Electric cars are currently used primarily by early adopters, typically individuals with a higher socioeconomic status. As of July 1, 2024, electric vehicles accounted for just over 3 percent of the total registered car fleet.
Regional disparities are also evident: As in the previous year, significantly fewer new electric cars were registered in the eastern parts of Germany in 2023. In addition, urban regions with an electric car share of 17% lagged behind suburban and rural areas in terms of new registrations, where electric cars accounted for 19% and 21% of all new registrations within these regions respectively.
“The success of the transition is crucial to achieving Germany’s climate targets,” explains Dr. Sandra Wappelhorst, Senior Researcher at the ICCT and lead author of the monitor. “It is crucial that everyone who relies on a car for their everyday mobility can participate in the transition from combustion to electric cars – regardless of factors such as income or place of residence.”
Overcoming Reservations Through Information
In addition to financial support as well as public and private charging infrastructure, awareness-raising measures are key to reaching as many people as possible as part of the transition to electric mobility. Targeted information services can, for example, help address existing uncertainties – for instance about purchase costs, range, residual value, and battery life of electric vehicles. “There are still certain reservations about electromobility. Awareness-raising measures for the general public and specific groups are particularly important,” says Dr. Wappelhorst.
The monitor is part of an ICCT project funded by Stiftung Mercator on the subject of electromobility and social participation. The aim is to close existing knowledge gaps by examining social, geographical, and financial barriers hindering a faster transition to electric cars. The ICCT derives recommendations to promote social inclusion in the transition from combustion to electric cars.
Publication Details
Title: Electromobility and Social Participation – A statistical Portrait of the Passenger Car Market in Germany from a Social Perspective (Monitor 2024)
Authors: Sandra Wappelhorst, Kyle Morrison, Sonsoles Díaz, Alexander Plummer, Sophie Ehmsen, Michelle Monteforte
Download: https://theicct.org/Elektromobilitaet_und_Teilhabe
PRESS CONTACTS
ICCT
Sophie Ehmsen | Communications Associate
T +49 30-233 268-418 | s.ehmsen@theicct.org
Stiftung Mercator
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communications
T +49 201-245 22-36 | lothar.kuhn@stiftung-mercator.de
Philipp Offergeld| Project Manager Climate Action
T +49 201-245 22-838 | philipp.offergeld@stiftung-mercator.de
About the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) is an independent, non-profit research organization that provides high-quality, objective studies and technical and scientific analysis to environmental authorities. Our mission is to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine and air transportation to protect public health and mitigate climate change. Since our founding in 2001, we have been funded by grants and contracts from private foundations and public institutions.
About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent, and non-profit foundation that acts on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has been advocating for a society based on solidarity and participation. To this end, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse community. Stiftung Mercator stands up for a cosmopolitan, democratic Europe, a digital transformation of state and society based on fundamental rights, and socially just climate change mitigation. Stiftung Mercator pursues activities in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. It feels particularly connected to the Ruhr area, home of its founder’s family and the foundation’s headquarters.
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