Research: High energy costs are a serious concern for the future of motoring

Her fans are particularly worried driving regarding the increasing cost of buying, using and maintaining their cars. This was one of the main conclusions of the automotive research for 2022, presented by Continental in early July.

For more than a decade, this research has been a barometer for global trends in motoring and the acceptance of the new technologies that accompany it. For 2022, the survey included 6,000 citizens, aged 18 to 70, in the countries of Germany, France, Norway, USA, Japan and China, examining their personal needs as well as their preferences, in leisure and travel. Its aim is to compare, internationally, the behaviors and personal habits of drivers related to the evolution of motoring.

Analysis of the data showed that drivers want to drive more safely, comfortably and with sustainable practices. Above all, however, they are interested in the affordable acquisition and use of the car. In general, high inflation rates and rapidly rising energy prices threaten to put the brakes on automotive development. Sustainability, however, continues to be a priority and is becoming more and more important for the majority of citizens. However, only 44% of Germans surveyed expect the future of motoring to be electric. In addition, more than half of people in Germany said they would no longer be able to afford to drive if the price of petrol exceeded 2.80 euros per litre.

At the same time, they report that they are not at all willing to spend more money to buy or use an environmentally friendly vehicle than they spend for their conventional car, and almost half cite the high cost as reason they don’t buy an electric car. In the vast majority’s opinion, governments need to do a lot more to ensure that the proportion of vehicles on the road that do not emit pollutants increases and, above all, to ensure that motoring remains affordable overall.

The rising cost of electricity and the lack of information are obstacles to the development of electric mobility.

In addition, the research showed that cost and insufficient infrastructure are barriers to increasing demand for environmentally friendly cars, especially electric ones. About 2/3 of respondents in Germany feel insufficiently informed about the cost of buying and operating an electric car. Due to the rising cost of electricity, 67% are unsure of the benefit of purchasing an electric vehicle, while the majority (62%) do not believe they will be able to purchase an electric vehicle in the near future.

One equally impressive conclusion of the research is that cars are and will remain the big winner in citizens’ travel habits during the pandemic. The vast majority of respondents reported using their car at least once a week. In the US, more than half (59%) use their car every day, while only 1/5 of respondents use public transport at least once a week and only one in ten use it every day. The vast majority also believe that cars will remain at the top of transportation preferences in the future and, perhaps, even more so, while those who traveled during the pandemic reported that they only did so in their car and will continue to do so. (84%), once the pandemic is over.

The majority of respondents in Germany consider the car to be an essential part of their personal life and not just a means of transportation. Thus, drivers express a strong desire to have all modern conveniences and technologies in their vehicle, such as internet connection, to download programs that will make driving safer, more comfortable, less time-consuming, fun and useful. Half of respondents consider electronic driver assistance systems desirable or even necessary as standard vehicle equipment, while one in four would like features such as automated driving during a traffic jam. Finally, the majority of respondents indicated that connectivity, automation and user experience play a key role when purchasing their new car.

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