Electric cars account for 27% of new vehicle registrations in Europe, but sales figures alone do not show whether buyers plan to choose an EV again. A McKinsey study suggests that 19% of European electric-car owners consider it likely that their next vehicle will run on petrol or diesel.
The share is higher worldwide: 29% of EV owners surveyed said they might return to an internal-combustion car. Australia recorded the highest figure at 49%, followed by the United States at 46%. The figure was 18% in France and 15% in Italy. In Europe, seven in ten battery-electric car owners said they would not go back to a combustion-engine vehicle.
Cost is one reason some owners reconsider. Charging at home can remain economical, but drivers who rely on public chargers face higher prices, particularly on motorways. Owners also have concerns about resale value: the used-EV market is still young, technology is advancing quickly, and electric cars currently lose value faster than comparable petrol models, according to the source report.
Charging access is another concern. Out-of-service chargers, busy stations during peak periods and high rapid-charging prices can make journeys less convenient. McKinsey’s 2026 findings show that range anxiety fell from consumers’ second-biggest concern in 2023 to eighth, while access to public charging remains a prominent worry.
The report describes today’s EV buyers as more pragmatic, weighing the ownership experience alongside the vehicle itself. In Germany, the share of consumers intending to switch to an electric car rose from 22% in 2023 to 31% in 2026. The figures suggest that while most European EV owners would choose electric again, concerns about resale value and charging infrastructure remain significant for some.
Sources: Motorpasión.