Despite this momentum, strategic clarity remains elusive. Debates surrounding the relaxation of EU fleet emissions limits and the renewed promotion of plug-in hybrids are unsettling prospective buyers.

To accelerate the uptake of electric mobility and strengthen public confidence in the technology, the Stiftung Klimaneutralität (Climate Neutrality Foundation), in cooperation with Agora Verkehrswende, has launched the "Regaining Trust" project. The most significant barriers identified are the high purchase costs of electric vehicles and opaque — and consequently elevated — public charging prices.

Two expert reports were commissioned as the basis for the recommendations developed:

• A representative survey of 3,000 prospective buyers, conducted in partnership with Innofact, identified specific barriers and buyer segments. The findings allow conclusions to be drawn about which measures can facilitate the switch to electric vehicles for which households, and how successful market ramp-up can be achieved.
• A legal opinion by BBH (Becker Büttner Held) on the regulation of charging infrastructure identifies legal options for reducing charging prices and increasing price transparency at public charging points within the existing EU regulatory framework.

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