Going on holiday in an electric car? The French are not yet totally convinced

This will only surprise those who live in the world of Care Bears: the car remains the preferred means of transportation for the French when going on vacation. In addition to offering the greatest flexibility, it is the most economical and versatile means of transportation for a family. Finally, the car is the most comfortable way to reach the vacation destination. Trains often fail to arrive on time or are canceled, and planes also have their share of inconveniences.

According to a study Peugeot conducted in partnership with IFOP last May among 1,002 French people aged 18 and over, 86% of them take their car to go on vacation. Would they be willing to consider traveling in an electric vehicle? That was the subject of the survey. The ecological transition is on everyone's minds. The European Commission has imposed the switch to all-electric vehicles starting January 1, 2035. From that date, manufacturers operating in Europe will only be able to sell electric, battery-powered, or hydrogen-powered vehicles—those considered "zero-emission" exhausts. By then, the regulations impose a particularly ambitious decarbonization trajectory. By 2030, manufacturers will have to have reduced the _CO2 emissions of their ranges by 50%. This requires selling mostly decarbonized vehicles. However, we are far from the target. In the first half of 2025, electric models accounted for only 15.6% of new car registrations in Europe. France, one of Europe's leading performers, saw its share rise to 17.5%, but in a market that declined by 7.9% over the first seven months of the year.

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In this context, Peugeot therefore sought to capture the hearts of the French. Their perception of electric cars reflects the market level. 75% of French people still find it difficult to go on holiday in an electric car. The reasons for this reluctance are always the same: purchase cost for 71% of them, limited range, and charging time. We could add to this the worry of queuing at charging stations. This prospect is highly likely at certain motorway service stations on the busiest days. We can argue that it's not a big deal, that it's the holidays, but it adds a constraint that most motorists are not ready to accept.

While the study shows that only 8% of French people have already tried going on vacation in an electric car, it doesn't say whether the trial was conclusive. However, many motorists admit that "to try it is to adopt it." Free of noise and vibrations, the electric car invites a peaceful and peaceful driving experience. It must also be said that the maintenance cost of a battery-powered vehicle is lower than that of an equivalent model with a combustion engine. However, contrary to popular belief, breakdowns are no less frequent than with gasoline engines.

Finally, the Peugeot study shows that younger generations are more open to change than their elders. This is the paradox of our society: those who are ready to switch to electric vehicles are the ones who travel the least by car. The average age for purchasing a new car is 54 in France. And the survey concludes that "78% of French people want more charging infrastructure in tourist areas. This need reveals a structural obstacle that goes beyond the sole responsibility of manufacturers: without comprehensive support, including local authorities, infrastructure operators, and tourism stakeholders, the transition to electric vehicles will remain perceived as incomplete."