The Electric Car: A Great Unknown for 93% of Spaniards

A recent study reveals that despite the push for electric mobility, most Spanish drivers still feel uninformed. Only 7% of drivers in Spain claim to have sufficient knowledge about electric vehicles.

This lack of information stands as one of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of emission-free cars.

The study "Peugeot 2025: Present and Future of the Automotive Sector" highlights that the main uncertainties revolve around essential aspects. 45% of Spaniards are unaware of the maintenance costs of an electric car, closely followed by doubts about charging costs (36.5%) and the existence of free charging points (29.6%).

Uncertainty also extends to the availability of specialized workshops (27.4%) and the process of battery manufacturing and recycling (27.4%). Other concerns include charging time (25%), the real environmental impact (24.4%), autonomy (20%), and home charging options (16.4%).

When considering the purchase of an electric vehicle, concerns about autonomy (65.4% do not see themselves making long journeys) and charging infrastructure (58.2% without nearby points at home or work) remain the main barriers. These fears intensify for long trips, with 44.7% avoiding them due to the need for frequent stops and 23.8% due to the scarcity of chargers en route.

Alberto Extramiana, Marketing Director of Peugeot Spain, points out that "today the challenge is not in the technology, but in how it is understood. The electric car is already a reality, but many Spaniards still do not perceive it as such due to lack of knowledge."

The study also reveals a generational gap. Those under 30, although more open to electric mobility, still have significant doubts: 44.8% are unaware of maintenance costs and 41.4% of charging costs. Only 10.3% of this group consider themselves well-informed.

On the other hand, drivers over 50 focus on structural and practical aspects. 51.5% do not know how much it costs to maintain an electric car, 28.7% are unsure about the existence of specialized workshops, and 28.3% are unaware of battery recycling. Only 4.2% of this segment claim to have sufficient knowledge, highlighting the importance of information for this group.

In Extramiana's words, "technology has advanced much faster than consumer perception. The real challenge is making that innovation understandable." This situation highlights the need for clear and accessible strategies to educate consumers and facilitate the transition to electric mobility in Spain.