A recent survey commissioned by insurer Europ Assistance has shed light on Belgians' attitudes towards electric cars. According to the findings, 22% of respondents firmly stated that their next

car would "definitely not" be electric.

However, the survey also indicates a shifting trend towards electric vehicles compared to the previous year. A year ago, only 41% expressed a definite or probable interest in purchasing an electric car, whereas this figure has now risen to 48%.

Interestingly, the survey highlights demographic variations in acceptance levels. Older individuals residing farther from urban centers tend to exhibit the most reluctance towards embracing electric cars. Conversely, younger city dwellers are more open to the idea. Despite this, the primary barrier remains the cost of electric vehicles.

Conducted online between December 13 and 22, the survey involved 1,004 respondents living in Belgium.

This study aligns with a previous survey conducted by BNP Paribas Fortis, which suggested a diminishing interest in car ownership among Belgians. In January, 42% of households indicated they would never transition to an electric or hybrid vehicle, with only 37% planning to do so by 2029, compared to 47% the previous year.

The rising percentage of individuals opposed to electric vehicles (+7%) can be attributed, in part, to the saturation of early adopters who have already purchased electric cars.

Notably, recent data indicates a significant surge in registrations of new and used electric cars by private individuals in Belgium. This increase, observed last month, can largely be attributed to incentives such as the Flemish premium for electric vehicles. Photo by jepoirrier (Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier, Wikimedia commons.