Americans are reluctant to jump ship from gas-operated vehicles to electric vehicles (EV).

A recent study from Consumer Reports found that while more than a quarter of Americans want to buy and own EVs, they are still hesitant to commit due to the pricing and availability of charging stations across the nation.

President Biden previously encouraged the purchase and use of EVs to escape the growing gas prices and create jobs in the EV battery manufacturing sector.

Consumer Reports EV Study Details

Consumer Reports found in its study that more than a third of Americans would "definitely" or "seriously" consider buying or leasing an EV if they were to buy a vehicle today. 

In the study that involved a survey of 8,027 adults across racial/ethnic and income groups, the people who said they were seriously and/or definitely considering buying an EV said so because it costs less to charge an EV than to refuel a gas car. They also added that maintaining an EV is cheaper than a gas-operated one and that overall lifetime costs are lower. 

Quinta Warren, Ph.D., Consumer Reports' associate director of sustainability policy, mentioned that the survey shows clear interest among Americans in reducing costs for transportation and lowering their environmental impact. However, the survey also revealed three distinct reasons why they are hesitating to do so.

61% of the respondents stated they're afraid of making the switch or buying an EV because of charging logistics. 

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Autoblog mentioned that these people are concerned about where and when they could charge an EV should they have one.

Meanwhile, 55% of respondents declared that they worry about the total mileage an EV could provide before needing a charge. On the other hand, 52% of respondents are reluctant to buy an EV due to its cost, owning, and maintenance.

Additionally, 6 of 10 respondents said that the purchase price of an EV was the most significant barrier out of all the possible ones due to their attention given to pricey models currently on the market.

Solutions To Overcome The Barriers

Despite these barriers, Warren believes that, while unfortunate, these could be overcome through experience and education. 

For instance, 46% of Americans have not heard about any incentives for EV owners, which could bring the price down to a more affordable level.

These incentives or subsidies come in the form of tax credits that, unfortunately, can't be taken advantage of immediately until the next federal income tax return. 

Furthermore, there are low-cost EVs that are vastly cheaper and are arguably just as good as a Tesla or Audi EV. For example, the Kira Niro, Subaru Solterra, and Toyota bZ4X are some of the EVs that only cost around $26,595, which is $20,000 less than the price of the average new car.

In addition to the incentives and cheaper EVs, the US government can also assuage worries about purchasing an EV with expanding charging options, education campaigns that show the benefits and incentives of getting an EV, and getting more people to experience EVs personally. 

Consumer Reports mentioned that Americans who have experience with EVs, even those who were simply a passenger in one, are more likely to be interested in purchasing one themselves.

Gabe Shenhar, Consumer Reports' associate director of auto testing, describes driving EVs as "a treat to drive."

This description is due to EVs having a quick but silent acceleration, and balanced handling, which is aided by their low-mounted battery. 

Related Article: Here Are the Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First EV