The popularity of electric mobility is growing in Germany. According to the “TÜV Mobility Study 2026,” a quarter of citizens (25 percent) would prefer a pure electric vehicle when buying a new car, while another quarter (25 percent) would opt for a hybrid, and four percent would choose a hydrogen-powered car. However, 35 percent still favor internal combustion engine vehicles, and eleven percent are undecided or would prefer not to buy a car at all. Furthermore, nearly a quarter (23 percent) of those who typically lean toward combustion engines or hybrids are considering an electric vehicle.
Despite this rising acceptance, there remain reservations about battery electric vehicles. The top concern is still the high purchase price, mentioned by 57 percent of respondents, followed by insufficient range (52 percent) and a lack of charging stations (50 percent). Residents of large cities, in particular, reported a higher dissatisfaction rate regarding charging infrastructure (58 percent). Day-to-day difficulties for EV owners also include noticeably shorter ranges in winter (61 percent), non-transparent pricing at public charging stations (49 percent), and the diversity and complexity of payment systems (48 percent).
The study also highlights a strong public desire for enhanced public transport and railway services. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed called for more intensive promotion of public local transport (ÖPNV), while 72 percent expressed a similar wish for regional and long-distance rail services.
Overall, the private car remains the most essential mode of transport, with 83 percent of respondents regularly using a car (at least once a week). Walking is used by 63 percent, and twenty percent of respondents commute using a traditional bicycle, 14 percent on an electric bike, and one percent on a cargo bike. Similarly, twenty percent use public transport regularly, alongside seven percent using regional trains. Motorcycles account for three percent, and e-scooters for two percent.
Significant differences emerge between urban and rural areas. Usage of a car is highest in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents, at 96 percent, though this percentage gradually declines with increasing size, remaining at 66 percent even in metropolises with over 500,000 residents. The mobility patterns also vary concerning cycling: while traditional bicycles dominate in large cities (26 percent), e-bikes are more prevalent than average in smaller towns (18 percent). The disparity in public transport use is particularly pronounced: only 8 to 12 percent use public transport at least weekly in towns with under 100,000 residents. This jumps to 35 percent in cities between 100,000 and 500,000, and 47 percent in large metropolises.
The basis for these study findings was a Forsa survey conducted for the TÜV Association involving 2,504 individuals aged 18 and older, carried out between March 19 and April 10, 2026.
