A recent survey found that almost one-third of all U.S. buyers would consider purchasing an EV as their next vehicle model. According to a new consumer survey by Reuters and Ipsos, 34% of Americans think about buying one of the 80 EVs that are now available on the domestic market.
Political affinities were a major factor in determining customer attitudes, with democratic respondents being almost twice as likely to consider buying an EV as their republican counterparts.
The poll found that one-third of US consumers support President Joe Biden’s goal of having 50% of all new cars sold by 2030 be electric or plug-in hybrid models. Although Tesla is the top EV manufacturer in the country, other popular models include the Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV, the General Motors Chevy Bolt, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
However, 56% of participants would only spend up to $49,999 for an EV. Even though the Biden administration succeeded in expanding the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credits as well as additional manufacturing incentives for batteries and EVs in August, the cost of an EV is still far above $50,000.
The survey also revealed that 35% of respondents wanted an EV with a range of 500 miles or more on a single charge, which is a distance that few EVs currently provide. Another 37% preferred at least 300 miles.
As the Biden administration works to enact new laws to hasten the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles, the major automakers in the world are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the development of EVs, as well as the batteries and raw materials to support that production.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to propose new, stricter car emissions regulations in the upcoming weeks that will last at least through the 2030 model year.
The EPA finalized new light-duty tailpipe emission standards in December 2021, rolling back the president’s reduction of auto pollution regulations through the 2026 model year.
