WIESBADEN (dpa-AFX) – Electromobility in Germany remains primarily a matter of income. An analysis by the Federal Statistical Office reveals a clear correlation between high household income and the purchase of an electric vehicle.
In 2023, only 1.3 percent of households with a monthly net income below €2,600 owned an electric car or a plug-in hybrid. In contrast, among households with net incomes above €5,000, the figure was already 13 percent. Couples with children were particularly likely to choose an electric vehicle, with a rate of 11.5 percent compared to 7.5 percent among couples without children.
Few Used Cars Available
The low rate among lower-income earners is likely due to the high prices of electric vehicles and the limited supply of affordable used models. Among electric car owners, only 15.2 percent had purchased their vehicle used, while the remainder had bought or leased their vehicle new.
The results are based on a survey of 54,000 households as part of the Income and Expenditure Sample. In general, around 80 percent of households in Germany own a car. According to the sample, about 6 percent of these vehicles were equipped with electric drive in 2023.
The federal government is planning a new subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles. This is once again set to include plug-in hybrids, which can be powered both electrically and with fuel. Last year, 30 percent of all newly registered cars in Germany fell into these two eligible categories. The upper limit for the subsidy is set at an annual net income of up to €90,000, provided there are at least two children in the household./ceb/DP/jha
