Electric vehicles are seeing significant growth in both global and German markets, according to a recent study by KfW Research. The report finds that the worldwide market share of electric cars has more than doubled over the past three years, with one in five new vehicles now being electric.
In Germany, the trend is also upward. The proportion of pure electric cars among German car exports has reached 27 percent. During the first quarter of this year, an average of 82,000 pure electric cars valued at EUR 3.4 billion were exported each month. The value of these exports was five times higher than imports.
The study also notes that the share of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in new registrations in Germany has increased steadily since early 2024. In the second quarter, electric vehicles accounted for 29 percent of new registrations, up from less than 20 percent in the first quarter.
“The signs that electric mobility is increasingly gaining traction in Germany are growing. Climate action and the German automotive industry could both benefit from further electrification,” said Dr Johannes Rode, Senior Economist at KfW Research and co-author of the study.
Data from the KfW Energy Transition Barometer shows that about half (49 percent) of surveyed households are open to using an electric car, while ten percent already own one. However, only three percent plan to acquire an electric vehicle next year—the lowest rate seen in recent years. Thirty-seven percent rule out using an electric vehicle entirely, and eight percent would consider it only if no other drive technologies were available.
The study highlights a decline in consumer reservations toward electric vehicles compared to previous years. High purchase price remains a key barrier for 59 percent of respondents, but concerns about charging infrastructure have dropped from 72 percent five years ago to 51 percent today. Range anxiety has decreased from 54 to 44 percent over this period, and only 30 percent now cite charging times as a major obstacle—down from nearly half previously.
Doubts about environmental sustainability have also fallen: whereas almost half cited this concern in 2020, just 34 percent do so now.
This shift may be related to improvements in how electricity for charging is sourced. Currently, more than one third (36 percent) of charging current comes from self-generated green electricity—a record level—while another 44 percent is purchased as green power from external providers.
“Supporting the market ramp-up of electric vehicles in Germany remains important,” recommends KfW economist Rode.
“Information deficits on the safety of electric vehicles should be removed, incentives for time-optimised charging should be created and charging solutions in multi-family dwellings should be simplified.”
The household data referenced comes from the KfW Energy Transition Barometer 2025—a representative annual survey covering decisions and attitudes on climate action among roughly 4,000 to 6,000 households; this year’s survey included responses from 5,119 households.