Automobile consumers’ lack of expertise with EVs continues to be holding again adoption, a brand new Client Reviews survey suggests.
The nationally consultant survey of 9,030 American customers—80% of whom stated they owned a non-hybrid gasoline automobile—was carried out in late June and July 2023. Seven in 10 respondents expressed some stage of curiosity in shopping for or leasing an EV, with 38% saying they might significantly contemplate an EV in the event that they have been getting a brand new automobile immediately.
However EV curiosity elevated with EV expertise, the survey discovered. Client Reviews developed an EV expertise index on a scale of 0 to 4 based mostly on solutions to 4 survey questions. Of these with the very best rating of 4, 71% stated they might significantly contemplate an EV in the event that they have been getting a automobile immediately. Solely 13% of respondents with zero EV expertise stated the identical.
2024 Kia EV9
The survey discovered that almost all Individuals do not have a lot expertise with EVs, although. Simply 5% of respondents registered a 4 on Client Reviews’ EV expertise index, whereas 64% had a rating of 1 or much less.
The survey additionally discovered that many Individuals aren’t conscious of EV incentives. Solely 47% of respondents have been conscious of tax credit for brand spanking new EVs, and simply 19% have been conscious of used-EV tax credit.
Low CO2 at no additional price? Many Individuals nonetheless say no to electrical automobiles
One query clearly indicated how environmentalism simply is not on the minds of many Individuals. It requested about low-carbon fuels, and fewer than a 3rd of Individuals stated they might be “very probably” to make use of low-carbon fuels even when they have been the identical value as gasoline. 56% stated they might no less than contemplate the likelihood in an aviation situation.
Client curiosity in low-carbon gasoline (from 2024 Client Reviews survey)
Outcomes displaying lack of expertise with EVs are acquainted. A 2022 research from J.D. Energy steered that a few third of Individuals have been flat-out rejecting EVs merely due to lack of publicity to them. A 2020 survey steered that 70% or extra of Individuals have been EV virgins—those that had by no means been inside an EV.
The U.S. EV market has not progressed a lot previous the early adopters; it is nonetheless a matter of getting “butts in seats.” Given the tribalism and partisan attitudes towards EVs which have developed simply over the previous few years, getting everybody to see the sunshine on EVs—or the deserves of really treading frivolously—could also be more and more tough.