Opel CEO: I've Driven an EV for 3 Years and Only Need Public Chargers Twice a Month

Florian Huettl, CEO of Opel, has revealed that he has been driving a fully electric car for three years and relies on public charging stations only once or twice a month at most. The number is striking. Huettl made the remarks during a press conference at the 2026 Paris International Motor Show, speaking to a group of Egyptian journalists as part of a media trip organised by Stellantis Al-Mansour Automotive. His personal experience offers a practical look at what the shift to electric mobility actually means when the right charging infrastructure is in place.

Opel and the Reliance on Home and Workplace Charging

Huettl charges his car primarily at his workplace. That eliminates his need for public chargers most of the time. Many customers in Germany, he notes, have the same option — they can plug in during their usual downtime at home or at the office, sharply reducing their dependence on fast-charging stations. This pattern of daily use stands in sharp contrast to the common perception that electric vehicles demand constant range anxiety and a perpetual hunt for public plugs.

Charging Speed vs. Range: What Really Matters?

Does charging speed actually decide whether someone buys an EV? The Opel CEO insists that speed still matters — especially for drivers covering long distances or those without home charging — yet it isn't necessarily the primary factor for every buyer. Opel is working to improve charging capabilities in its future models while balancing speed against cost. Huettl's experience makes one thing clear: charging infrastructure is the real benchmark for whether an electric car fits into daily life, not the range figures on a spec sheet alone.