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Switzerland is becoming more and more electrified! According to data from the Federal Highway Office, the rate of electric cars has reached over 20 percent in 2023, and this trend is increasing. The rapid development is due to the constantly growing model range of various brands. Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Škoda, CUPRA and VW Commercial Vehicles currently offer around a dozen fully electric models.
However, there are still some doubts about electromobility. The biases relate to costs, range or charging options, among other things. Some complain that electric cars are too expensive to buy, the range is too short, and the charging condition is too bad.
Range and charging infrastructure is growing
However, the reservations mentioned can now be definitively refuted. For example, range: The capacity of an electric battery has already doubled compared to the first models; many new rechargeable models can travel 500 kilometers or more on their charging capacity. This means they can easily cover Switzerland’s daily needs: According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the average driving distance in this country is only around 35 kilometers per day. However, with these ranges, longer trips, such as a ski weekend, are also possible without stopping for charging.
Speaking of charging: Prejudices about charging infrastructure sometimes persist. Their use is very limited as the charging network in Switzerland is constantly expanding. There are currently more than 11,000 public charging stations across the country; Almost a quarter of them fall into the category of fast charging stations. In an international comparison, Switzerland is doing very well, we are in the top 8 behind the Scandinavian and Benelux croissants. AMAG, the country’s largest car dealer, is also pushing forward the expansion of charging stations with an energy and mobility ecosystem. It is a company that offers one-stop solutions in electricity generation, electricity storage, charging and electromobility.
E-cars will soon be cheaper than internal combustion engines
What about costs? Are electric cars still more expensive to buy than combustion engines? The answer here is also no. The price difference with combustion cars is gradually decreasing. The reasons for this include the ever-expanding model range of brands and the decrease in lithium-ion battery prices.
Calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) of TCS using various plug models also shows that electric cars generally outperform internal combustion engines in terms of long-term operating costs. A study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) predicts that electric cars will be cheaper than relevant combustion models in all vehicle classes by 2027 at the latest.
The reason for this is that electric models have lower maintenance costs: According to the calculations of the German Automotive Industry Institute (IFA), this difference is around one third. The reason: Many things an internal combustion engine needs, from exhaust to spark plugs, gearboxes, radiators, clutches, air and oil filters, are no longer available in electric cars. Components that require regular maintenance.
Cheap transition to electric vehicles thanks to second-hand vehicles
The now strong growth of the e-events market also helps eliminate cost bias, as Olivier Wittmann, Managing Director of AMAG Import AG, confirms. “Thanks to attractive prices, e-events offer an interesting approach to making it easier to get started in e-mobility,” he says. Due to the model offensive of many brands three or four years ago, the selection is wide: “From the new annual car to the well-maintained rental car, there is something for everyone.”
Used electric models are generally in very good condition because none of them are really old. At AMAG, for example, almost no electric car is more than four years old. Additionally, the battery’s warranty usually lasts for eight years (or 160,000 kilometers). What this specifically means is that the battery has a minimum of 70 percent capacity during this time; This is also confirmed by the E-Occasion “health check” of the battery before it is sold. What’s more: The average range of battery performance used is around 94 percent.
Planning security thanks to all-inclusive rental
A very convenient option for those new to electricity is all-inclusive rental. Advantage: A fixed monthly fee ensures planning security and the vehicle can be easily returned after the agreed period. This leaves it open that the possibility of switching to a newer model later is not insignificant.
With LeasingPLUS from AMAG Leasing, the transition to electromobility is particularly smooth. The service is a service package that includes all applicable expenses such as fluid and tires, as well as car insurance and installment insurance. The cost examples in the box show what this means in terms of price for different brands of electric cars!
*Offers on available vehicles | AMAG Leasing (amag-leasing.ch) can be viewed. The offer is valid for immediately available fully electric vehicles of the brands Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and VW Commercial Vehicles (in cases over 1000 km) when financed by AMAG Leasing AG. Excludes: internal combustion and gas vehicles, various Audi RS and VW commercial vehicle models. Only from participating partners and while stocks last. Contracts signed until March 31, 2024 or until cancelled. Valid for vehicles imported by AMAG Import AG. Lending is prohibited if it causes the consumer to become overly indebted. Errors and changes reserved. Rental rates are shown excluding services such as compulsory motor insurance.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
