Most European EV drivers surveyed by LCP Delta in 2025 said they would not return to petrol or diesel, but the result is not unanimous: one in four were undecided and 15% said they would go back. The finding is evidence of strong owner retention intent—not proof that every driver is satisfied, or that all Europeans feel the same way.
What European EV owners say about switching back
LCP Delta’s 2025 EV Driver Survey asked current electric-car drivers whether they would return to petrol or diesel. Of the respondents, 60% said no, 15% said yes, and 25% were undecided. That makes the overall answer favorable to EVs, while leaving a substantial share of owners either open to switching or not ready to rule it out.
The survey collected online questionnaire responses from 3,900 EV drivers in May and June 2025 across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK and Poland. LCP Delta specified 400 respondents per country except Belgium, where it had 300. These are reported intentions from that sample, not observed next-car purchases or a single representative estimate for every European EV owner.
What the other figures measure—and what they do not
Several recent figures sound like measures of EV “love,” but they ask different questions of different populations. They should not be treated as interchangeable satisfaction scores or combined into one average.
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| Source and population | Geography and timing | Reported result | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCP Delta EV Driver Survey 2025: 3,900 current EV drivers responding online | Ten European countries; May–June 2025 | 60% would not return to petrol or diesel; 15% would; 25% undecided | Stated intention about returning to combustion |
| McKinsey & Company European consumer survey analysis: current EV owners | Europe; published 2024 | 19% were likely or very likely to switch back to a traditional combustion vehicle at their next purchase | Likelihood of switching at the next purchase; not the same response categories as LCP Delta’s question |
| EAFO Consumer Monitor 2025: more than 3,000 licensed drivers in an online panel | All 27 EU Member States; fielded October 2025, report published 2026 | Around four in five had positive or neutral views of electric cars | General consumer perception, not owner satisfaction; respondents were not limited to EV owners |
| EAFO survey fielded in 2023: 19,080 respondents, including BEV and conventional-car drivers | 12 European countries; published by the European Commission on 20 June 2024 | 80% of BEV drivers found a 201–400 km range sufficient | Range sufficiency among BEV drivers, not overall satisfaction or intent to repurchase |
| Global EV Drivers Alliance (GEVA) survey, summarized by EAFO: more than 23,000 EV drivers reached through member organizations | 18 countries worldwide; 2024 | 92% planned to buy another zero-emission EV; 1% indicated they would return to petrol or diesel | Global next-car intention, not a Europe-only estimate; responses were weighted by each country’s share of the global EV fleet |
The McKinsey result is a useful counterpoint to LCP Delta: a notable minority of surveyed European owners considered switching back. But the studies differ in question wording, recruitment and method, so their percentages do not form a direct like-for-like comparison. GEVA’s stronger global retention figure has a different geography and recruitment route, and should not be presented as Europe’s result.
EAFO’s 2025 monitor adds context about the broader market rather than owner loyalty. Its Consumer Monitor found generally positive or neutral views among EU consumers, while also identifying uncertainty about whether a battery-electric vehicle fits daily needs, vehicle cost as a primary obstacle, and the importance of reliable charging near home—particularly for households without private parking.
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Why owner intention is not the same as satisfaction
“Would you switch back?” is a practical test of whether owners want to retain the powertrain, but it does not capture every part of ownership. Someone may like driving an EV yet be unsure about their next purchase; another driver may intend to keep buying EVs because charging and range work for their routine, without rating every aspect of the car highly.
LCP Delta also reported that 84% of its surveyed drivers were likely to buy the same brand again. That is a brand-repurchase intention, not a measure of whether they would choose an EV rather than a combustion car. The same survey found 65% primarily charged at home, a usage pattern that can make an EV more convenient for drivers with dependable access to parking and charging.
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Range expectations illustrate another divide. In EAFO’s 2023 survey, 80% of BEV drivers considered 201–400 km sufficient, while non-BEV drivers often wanted at least 500 km. That gap suggests experience and expectation can differ; it does not establish that owners are universally satisfied with range. EAFO revised its survey approach and broadened coverage in 2025, so the two editions should not be read as a clean trend line.
What the findings mean for drivers considering an EV
The owner evidence is encouraging if you are weighing whether people regret going electric: in LCP Delta’s sample, more drivers ruled out a return to petrol or diesel than said they would switch back. But the surveys do not prove that an EV will suit your own journeys or charging options.
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- Check your charging routine. Home charging is common among LCP Delta respondents, but it is not universal. If you lack private parking, consider whether dependable public or near-home charging is realistically available where you live.
- Match range to your actual trips. Consider your regular daily mileage and how often you make longer journeys, rather than relying on a single range threshold drawn from other drivers’ preferences.
- Include purchase cost in the decision. EAFO identified vehicle cost as a primary obstacle for consumers; a favorable owner-retention result does not remove that barrier.
For drivers who have suitable parking and installation access, a home EV charger or home chargepoint may be relevant to the ownership equation. LCP Delta’s finding that 65% of surveyed drivers primarily charge at home describes their reported behavior; it does not mean home installation is available or practical for every household.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.So, do Europeans still love their EVs?
The fairest answer is that surveyed European EV drivers show strong, but not unanimous, willingness to stay electric. The clearest recent owner result—LCP Delta’s 60% saying they would not return to petrol or diesel—supports the headline, while its 25% undecided share and McKinsey’s 19% likely-or-very-likely switch-back finding show why it needs qualification. Broader EU sentiment is mostly positive or neutral, but that is a different measure from owner satisfaction.
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These surveys capture stated views and intentions at particular times; they do not establish why owners feel as they do, predict completed purchases, or prove that satisfaction is rising. No directly comparable harmonized panel tracking the same European EV owners over time is established by these findings.
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