Half of Swedes do not think that the range of electric cars is sufficient

If the next car is to be an electric car, the range must be at least 500 kilometers – this is what almost half of Swedes think. A requirement that only a few models in the premium segment are able to meet today.

Nearly every second person (49%) stated in a Sifo survey commissioned by us that they need at least 500 kilometers from a fully charged battery to consider buying an electric car – otherwise they are disqualified.

– For the vast majority of people, I would say that a range of less than 500 kilometers is more than enough to meet everyday needs, but since there is still a lack of charging stations in large parts of the country and the majority cannot yet charge their electric car at home, it is no wonder that it is seen as a dealbreaker, says Daniel Odsberg, Sales Manager Kvdbil .

Only two stand out on the top list

Of the ten most common electric cars in Sweden, only the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model S can boast a range of 500 kilometers or longer. But long range usually also means a higher price tag. Of the two, the ID.4 is the cheapest with a price of around half a million. For a Model S, you have to pay over a million.

The fact that long-range electric cars cost so much is an obstacle to the transition, according to Daniel Odsberg.

– The electric car range is constantly broadening with lower prices and improved range. But car models with a range of over 500 kilometers are rare and still expensive. If we are to make the transition, range anxiety needs to be cured, both through expanded charging infrastructure and a broader model range, says Daniel Odsberg, Sales Manager.

Through Kantar Sifo, we asked 1054 people aged 18-79 the question:

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

100 km, 1%
200 km, 6%
300 km, 12%
400 km, 15%
500 km, 24%
600 km, 10%
700 km, 6%
800 km, 3%
900 km, 1%
1000 km or longer, 5%
Don't know, 16%
500 km or longer (summation), 49%

10 most common electric cars – this is their range

Range and price have been obtained from the respective manufacturers and refer to the base models, unless otherwise stated. Range is stated according to the WLTP standard.

*Price excluding any climate bonus.

About the survey
The survey was conducted in Kantar Sifo's web panel during the period 27-30 August 2021. A total of 1054 people aged 18-79 were interviewed. The web panel is nationally representative and recruited based on random selection. There is no self-recruitment in Sifo's web panel.