Many Americans Still Shy of EVs
Poll finds a minority would consider electric for their next purchase.
High cost and charger availability are two big reasons many Americans are loathe to switch to EVs.
IMAGE: Pixabay/distel APPArath
As federal and state governments ramp up efforts to push electric-vehicle adoption, the typical American isn’t so sure.
A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago finds that just four in 10 are at least somewhat likely to buy electric rather than gas-powered.
Just 8% of respondents said they or someone else in their household now has an EV. The same percentage said there’s a plug-in hybrid in their household.
And only 19% said it’s very or extremely likely they’ll choose an EV for their next vehicle purchase, while 47% said it’s unlikely they will do so.
Of poll respondents, six in 10 cited EV prices are a major factor in their hesitancy. That’s despite federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for some EV model purchases, though qualifications for the credits were recently tightened in the U.S. effort to move more EV battery production away from Asia.
The Biden administration wants half of new-vehicle sales to be EVs by 2030 as it seeks to reduce environmentally harmful emissions.
About 75% of poll respondents cited the other major reason many Americans haven’t gotten the EV bug: limited charging infrastructure. Two-thirds said they simply prefer gas-powered models.
Expanded charger availability is another obstacle the Biden administration is working to remedy as it targets 500,000 charging stations in the U.S.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Showroom
Inventory Holds Steady
September new-vehicle inventory rose slightly month-over-month, but dealer lots are laden with MY2026 vehicles as the typical model year changeover trudges along.
Read More →
October Auto Sales Fall With the Leaves
A forecast anticipates retail deliveries are down this month as consumers continue to face cost challenges, though more are tapping long loans in order to buy.
Read More →
California Sees Quarterly Gains
California’s new-vehicle market saw a boost in hybrids in the third quarter and its first overall quarterly market gain of the year.
Read More →
New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put
Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.
Read More →
EV Buyer Consideration Shifts
What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'
Read More →
Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own
A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.
Read More →
Slow to Robo
Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.
Read More →
Dealers a Little Down
A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.
Read More →
European EV Sales Skyrocket
The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.
Read More →
Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan
The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.
Read More →