What do people think about electric vehicles? An initial study of the opinions of car purchasers in Poland

Abstract

Road transport causes one fifth of the EU’s total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which are especially high in cities. A suggested solution to this situation is the introduction of electric vehicles (EV). However, evidence from European countries shows that, without any governmental support, the sales of EVs are low in comparison to other vehicles. Our pilot study, conducted in Wrocław (Poland), shows that car purchasers in Poland are aware of the difference between pure electric and hybrid vehicles (HEVs). As most car purchasers buy on the second-hand market, the potential for sales of EVs and HEVs still seems limited. Our study confirmed that consumers have a generally positive opinion about EVs. However, they expect that the purchase of EVs should be subsidized. Keywords: Electric vehicle, Hybrid electric vehicle, Consumers, Willingness to pay, Survey