Fifty-seven percent of Americans say their next car likely won’t be an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), according to a new survey.
Pollster Ipsos and Yahoo Finance surveyed “a nationally representative probability sample of 1,025 general population adults age 18 or older” to get the numbers.
31% Are Willing
The survey showed room for considerable growth in EV sales. “One in three Americans say it is likely that the next time they purchase a vehicle, it will be an electric one (31%),” Ipsos explains.
Related – Pros and Cons of Electric Cars: A Comprehensive Guide
Last quarter, 7.9% of new car sales were electric.
But 36% described themselves as “not at all likely,” and another 21% as “not too likely” to buy an EV or a PHEV next. PHEVs are partially electric hybrid cars capable of recharging from a wall outlet, traveling around-town distances on electric power alone, and going further with gasoline.
Gas Price Hike Would Change the Numbers
A hypothetical increase in gas prices changes the results somewhat. “Forty-nine percent say they are more likely to purchase an EV if gas averages $6 or $8 a gallon, while 56% say they are more likely to purchase an EV if gas averages $10 a gallon,” Ipsos says.
Age, Education Are Differentiators
Forty-seven percent of Americans with a college degree said they are likely to buy an electric vehicle next, while just 18% with a high school diploma or less said the same.
Related – EV Sales Growing in Some States, Shrinking in Others
Age proved to be a significant differentiator. Forty percent of Millenials, 33% of Gen Xers, and 22% of Baby Boomers were open to going electric.
Among those reluctant to buy an EV, 77% cited the lack of public charging stations as a problem. Seventy-three percent cited the lack of driving range, and 70% cited cost.
The price of the average electric car has fallen by about 20% so far in 2023, but survey results indicate few Americans know that. “Less than a third of Americans are familiar with government programs to provide tax breaks on EV purchases (30%), recent reductions in the sale prices of EVs, and deals to make universal charging networks for EVs (20%),” Ipsos found.
