Electric cars: Swedes' demands for range unchanged – despite increased capacity

Six out of ten Swedes believe that 500 kilometers is an acceptable, or clearly acceptable, range for an electric car. This opinion has not changed for three years, despite the fact that many new models with significantly longer ranges have been released. This is shown by a survey conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of us at Kvdbil .

The range of electric cars has been steadily improving, and today many models can travel several tens of miles on a single charge. According to our review, the average range of the cars on the market is just under 500 miles*. However, several reach over 600 miles and some can even manage 700 miles without having to stop for charging. Three years ago, the situation was completely different. Of the ten best-selling electric cars in Sweden, only the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Tesla Model S had a range of 500 miles or more.

Requirements unchanged

Despite this, Swedes' range requirements have not changed significantly. 58 percent still believe that a range of 500 kilometers is sufficient for their needs, which is the same as three years ago. For just over one in six people, the limit is already at 300 kilometers, also a figure that has been relatively constant. Daniel Odsberg, sales manager at Kvdbil , comments on why he believes that requirements have not increased at the same rate as technology has developed.

– The number of charging stations has increased significantly, and many more people are charging their electric cars at home compared to three years ago. This may contribute to many people feeling that a longer range is not necessary, says Daniel Odsberg. In addition, I believe that the fact that electric cars have become more common and that more people have become familiar with the technology has made consumers more confident about the range offered. Changing travel habits, where driving is adapted to range and charging needs, may also have an impact.

Older electric cars popular

The rapid development has also meant a significant shift in the second-hand market. The models that can be purchased used today are superior to those that were available just a few years ago, Daniel Odsberg points out.

– Choosing an older electric car no longer has to mean compromising on performance or technology, which is a very positive development for consumers.

Lowest requirements for those who already drive electric cars

As expected, those who already drive electric cars have the lowest range requirements. Almost nine out of ten electric car owners, 88 percent, believe that 500 kilometers is enough. Next come plug-in hybrid owners with 64 percent. Among those who drive gasoline cars, the figure is 59 percent, while for those who drive diesel cars it is 54 percent.

– It is not surprising that those who already drive electric cars experience range as less of a problem. Apart from the fact that it may be a matter of habit and that they have overcome some kind of threshold, we know that electric cars are somewhat more common in and around cities where distances are shorter. This of course reduces the risk of situations where range becomes a problem.

Every fourth Swede: 500 km is not enough

But a quarter of Swedes (25%) believe that a range of 500 kilometers is not sufficient. For them, 600 kilometers or more is needed for it to be acceptable. This is a slight increase compared to when the survey was last conducted (24%).

– Despite significant advances in charging infrastructure and technology, range is still a limitation that discourages many from considering an electric car. Another concern is the time it takes to fast charge, where a waiting time of up to an hour can be experienced as both inconvenient and time-consuming for many motorists. Furthermore, electric cars that offer a range of over 600 kilometers on a single charge are often highly priced and not accessible to everyone, points out Daniel Odsberg.

Question: What is the minimum/shortest range you think is acceptable for an electric car?

* The range stated follows the WLTP standard. According to this standard, the range is measured at an average speed of 46.5 km/h in summer temperatures from a full charge to an empty battery. It is important to note that the actual range may vary in real traffic and under different conditions. In practice, many electric cars can have a range that is 10-20%shorter than what the WLTP standard states.

About the survey

The survey was conducted in Kantar Media's web panel (Sifopanelen) during the period 4–8 January 2024. A total of 1316 people aged 18-79 were interviewed, of which 1055 had access to a car. The web panel is nationally representative and recruited based on random selection. There is no self-recruitment in Kantar Media's web panel (Sifopanelen).