Range anxiety exaggerated – most electric car drivers rarely experience problems

A survey we commissioned through Sifo shows that the image of electric car life is often more problematic than reality. Over half (60%) of electric car drivers say they rarely experience problems with charging infrastructure, while only just over one in ten (11%) say the problems occur frequently.

At the same time, around three in ten (28%) experience problems sometimes – which shows that challenges still exist, not least related to availability and capacity in the charging network.

– There has long been a fairly persistent image that driving an electric car is complicated. Our survey shows that this image is largely outdated. For most people, it works in everyday life, says Daniel Odsberg, sales manager at Kvdbil .

Developments are moving forward rapidly, both in terms of range and expansion of charging infrastructure. This is helping more people feel secure in their car choice.

– The electric car has matured as a product. The range has increased and the charging options have become more numerous.

Large regional differences

At the same time, the survey indicates that the experience is not evenly distributed across the country. The problems are clearly greater in certain regions and major cities.

In Stockholm, just over 21 percent state that they often experience problems with the charging infrastructure – the highest in the country. The proportion is also relatively high in Northern Central Sweden (19%) and Southern Sweden (16%).

In other parts of the country, the problems are considerably less. In Western Sweden, only around 5 percent say they often encounter problems, and in Malmö as few as 3 percent. In Upper Norrland, the corresponding figure is just over 10 percent. At the same time, no one in Central Norrland and Småland with the islands says they often experience problems.

Stockholm stands out – despite good infrastructure

At first glance, it may seem unexpected that the problems are greatest in Stockholm, where the expansion of charging infrastructure has come a long way.

– Stockholm has a well-developed charging infrastructure, but at the same time also has the most electric cars. This means that the load on the charging points is higher, especially in areas where many people lack their own charging, says Daniel Odsberg.

– In practice, it's not always about a lack of chargers, but about availability here and now. When many people are charging at the same time, queues or busy stations can occur, which affects the experience.

– At the same time, we see that there are parts of the country where it already works very well today. This shows that it is possible to remove many of the obstacles that still exist.

Continued need for expansion

There are also regional differences in how often problems occur overall. In North Central Sweden, for example, a large proportion report that they experience problems at least sometimes, which indicates that access to charging does not always match needs.

– It is important that politicians and companies do not rest on their laurels. If more people are to dare to take the step, continued expansion of the charging infrastructure is required – not least outside the big cities, says Daniel Odsberg.

Share that often experiences problems with charging infrastructure

About the survey:
The survey was conducted in Sifo's web panel (Sifopanelen) during the period March 3–11, 2026. A total of 1,040 people aged 20–79 with access to a car were interviewed.

The web panel is nationally representative and recruited based on random selection. There is no self-recruitment in Sifo's web panel.