According to a survey by the energy company Eon, climate protection and sustainability are playing an increasingly important role when buying a car.

"Half of all motorists in Germany would opt for an electrified, rechargeable vehicle the next time they buy a car," said the managing director of Eon Energie Deutschland, Filip Thon.

The production method of the e-cars also plays an important role for the majority of those surveyed.

According to the survey that the AFP news agency received on Friday, 30 percent of those questioned would choose a purely electric car next, and a further 20 percent a plug-in hybrid, i.e. a combustion engine with electric charging capability.

The pure electric car is therefore on par with the classic gasoline engine.

Only 9 percent of consumers would opt for a diesel.

For the survey, the Statista Q institute interviewed more than 2000 driver's license holders between the ages of 18 and 69 on behalf of Eon in October.

According to the survey in Berlin, where 40 percent of those surveyed would opt for a purely electric vehicle and a further 15 percent for a plug-in hybrid, electric cars are particularly in demand.

All-electric vehicles are also very popular in Hamburg (35 percent) and Hesse (34 percent).

Climate protection is the most important argument

At 69 percent, the most important reason for switching to electromobility was clearly “climate protection, sustainability, environmental awareness”.

A further 60 percent see electromobility as “the technology of the future” and 51 percent were convinced by “purchase bonuses and tax advantages”.

The production method of their future car was correspondingly important to the respondents who wanted to drive electric cars in the future: 91 percent said it was important or very important to them that the vehicle was produced in a climate-friendly manner.

For a car produced in a climate-friendly way, 63 percent of those surveyed would also pay more money.

The interest in buying an electric car was particularly pronounced among younger people.

Among the 18- to 24-year-olds, 35 percent would choose an e-car, with families it was also 35 percent. 

Anyone who already has a photovoltaic system is interested in electric cars

The gas station on your own roof also seems attractive: 40 percent of the owners of a photovoltaic system with which the electric car can be refueled said that they want to buy an electric car next.

13 percent of solar system owners stated that they already drive an e-car.

According to a current study by the management consultancy EY, the market for electromobility in Germany is picking up speed: For the coming year, the EY experts are expecting an electric market share of 32 percent of all new registrations.

In 2030, according to the forecast, two thirds of the market for new registrations will be dominated by electric car manufacturers.