“Knowledge of electromobility is surprisingly low”

Jean-Marc Geiser, what car do you drive yourself?

Since I work at the Federal Office of Energy, I don’t want to only concern myself with sustainable and alternative mobility technologies from a theoretical point of view. I switched to an electric car a year and a half ago after deciding I wanted to find the most energy-efficient car with the best ecological footprint.

And, how are you getting on with your electric car?

Firstly, you should know that, before starting my job at the Office of Energy, I worked in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. I was a true petrol-head; petrol flowed not just through my veins, but through my thoughts too. So, before switching to a vehicle with an electric engine, I was sceptical. But, during my first test drive of the Cupra Born, something became clear to me: this was the one. My wife and I are delighted –and not just because of the energy efficiency factor, but also because of how exceptionally enjoyable it is to drive. For us, it's obvious: Once electric, always electric. 

Where and how do your charge your vehicle?

That’s an important question and probably one that anyone who considers making the switch asks themselves. My wife and I are home owners and we have our own solar panels installed on our roof. We fuel our car using our own solar energy. Of course I’m aware that I’m in a privileged position. For those who are renting, the matter of charging infrastructure often goes hand in hand with certain challenges.

That was my next question: are there enough charging stations for electric vehicles in Switzerland?

With over 11’000 public charging stations at present, the network in this country is actually quite dense. But it needs to be expanded further, assuming that road traffic in Switzerland battery-electric by 2050.

How have sales of electric vehicles developed over the past two years? 

Demand is increasing steadily. In the first half of 2023, one in every five new registrations was an electric car. If you count hybrid vehicles, the figure is around 50%. The curve is pointing upwards. Now, car manufacturers are being asked to develop their ranges further to make electric cars accessible to more people.

What do you mean by that?

At this point, there’s an electric car to suit almost every budget. However, manufacturers are still mainly focused on building cars for which they can achieve the highest possible margins. This means you don't come across electric estate cars and there are very few small electric cars; the range of SUVs on offer, however, is huge.

According to a TCS survey half of people in Switzerland can imagine buying an electric car “very likely” or “somewhat likely” in the next three years. What conclusion do you draw from this?

Interest in this latest technology is growing steadily, but the issue throws up quite a few questions as well. There are lots of misconceptions and clichés that don’t – or no longer – apply. There is therefore a great need for more information. We're aiming to fill this information void with our “Go with the Flow” campaign.

Where is there the greatest need for more clarification?

Everywhere, actually. Everyone is talking about electromobility – but the knowledge about this is surprisingly low. For example, many people do not know how long it takes to charge, that it financial incentives and tax benefits indicates that maintenance and operating costs are low, that the purchase price of a mid-range electric car is not necessarily higher than that of an internal combustion engine of the same category (TCO study) or that enormous progress has been made in terms of reach over the past five years. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge can influence whether or not someone decides to make the switch or not. This is where we want to start.

“Go with the Flow” is basically an advertising platform for electric vehicles, then?

No! Our main objective is sharing information and facts. Of course we are also aiming to raise awareness amongst people and inform them about the potential of electromobility and the advantages it brings. But we aren’t missionaries for electromobility.

So what is the definitive aim of the campaign?

“Go with the Flow” is targeted at people who are considering buying a new car or who are already in the process of doing so. On our Website you will find information on the state of the art and how this new form of mobility fits into every day life and every living situation. If someone is interested in buying a new car, he or she should make a well-informed choice for a clean, energy-efficient model.