Hopes that motorists might switch to electric cars in large numbers may be just a pipedream, according to the results of a new mobility survey by German component maker Continental.

More than 80 per cent of those asked in Germany and China said they would buy a new car with the same drivetrain as the one they already have, namely petrol, petrol-electric hybrid or diesel.

In the United States more than 90 per cent of respondents answered the same question with "yes" or "probably".

In Japan there was more willingness to change, with around a quarter of those quizzed saying they could imagine switching to a pure-electric after owning a combustion-driven car.

"When it comes to choosing a powertrain, today's drivers tend to be conservative and rely on proven technology," said Conti's engine department CEO Andreas Wolf.

Range anxiety was one of the main reasons for the unwillingness of car drivers to embrace electric mobility, said Wolf. Few electric cars can travel more than 400 kilometres without recharging.

A total of 1,000 people in Germany, the US, Japan and China took part in the survey carried out by the Infas Institute on behalf of Conti.

The scandal over manipulated emission results for diesel engines has left its mark in Germany where 30 per cent of those asked own a self-igniter but only half that number said they would buy one again.

The study also highlighted ongoing scepticism towards automated driving. Two thirds of those canvassed welcomed devices which would take over driving in monotonous or stressful situations - such as in traffic jams or where roadworks were in place.

Chinese drivers were far and away the most enthusiastic about future robotic driving, with Germans, Americans and Japanese drivers lagging behind.

A majority in Germany - where data protection laws are stringent - were opposed to connected cars exchanging more data between vehicles, the internet and the environment. Again the Chinese found this more desirable.

Only a third of the Germans asked said they would willingly use robot taxis whereas more Americans, Chinese and Japanese could imagine taking a ride in a driverless taxi.