The survey found that homeowners who are considering buying an EV may also want to buy a solar PV system with the utilities having the responsibility of offering specific automotive electricity tariffs.
Electric vehicles currently occupy a small corner of the German car market, but there is a clear growth trend emerging with a particular appeal among those who would be able to charge the vehicles from a solar PV system. In this way, EVs could be charged for around 10-11 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on the location of the system. This is helping to make EVs even more attractive because of cost-effectiveness.
EuPD Research has been conducting research focused on private end customers and the buying process in the context of the energy transition. The current survey found that 9 percent of approximately 500 people approached said that they are going to consider purchasing an EV in the short term, probably at some point during the course of this year. 91 percent of those are also interested in installing a PV system and 54 percent of this group indicated that they would be doing so this year.
When end customers do not have any options to supply themselves and their electric vehicle with self-generated electricity, a clear majority believes it is the utilities’ obligation to offer appropriate and specific tariffs. 70 percent of the survey participants declared that they would chose these specific automotive electricity tariffs, in order to meet the demands of the growing market for electric mobility.
The survey is just one element of an annual analysis conducted by EuPD Research of the ‘Energiewende Award’ for energy suppliers. This year, the company intends to not only assess the energy transition portfolios of German utilities but also those of Austrian and Swiss energy suppliers. The results of the analysis will be presented on 21st June as part of a new platform, smarter E Europe, in Munich. This will unite the Intersolar Europe and ees Europe as well as new exhibitions Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power. This project has been initiated by The smarter E, the DCTI German CleanTech Institute and EuPD Research.
Image: Rooftop solar PV in northern Germany, courtesy of Tvabutzku1234, Wikimedia Commons
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