Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
It makes sense that consumers become much more calm once they have a chance to get up-close-and-personal with a plug-in electric vehicle. Consumer fears about EVs seem to nearly evaporate, in fact, once a driver has owned or leased an electric vehicle.
That, among other interesting changes, is revealed in the recent survey from the non-profit Plug In America, in collaboration with Electric Power Research Institute’s 2030 initiative. The findings from their 2024 EV Driver Annual Survey Report about EV driver satisfaction tell us a lot about how much EVs have evolved from arms-distance trepidation to nearly mainstream acceptance of EVs for everyday driving.
The intent of the survey was to get a full picture of the current EV experience in the US, with particular focus on:
What are the most important considerations drivers have when buying an EV?
What is the likelihood that their next car will be an EV?
What are some of the biggest concerns that drivers had when they bought an EV?
What are some of the biggest concerns now?
What is the purchasing journey for an EV like?
What does the current EV driver profile look like?
Assuming that you don’t have time to read the 43-page report, here are the highlights, with a bit of analysis thrown in to deconstruct some of the findings.
Consumer Fears About EVs Diminish, & Other 2024 Insights Into EV Attitudes
Love those EVs! Overall, 89.4% of EV drivers answered that it is likely that their next vehicle purchase will be an EV.
What seniors and Tesla drivers have in common: EV drivers ages 65 and over and Tesla drivers had a 90%+ response that their next vehicle would likely be an EV.
Tesla drivers who’ll buy an EV again: 94% of Tesla drivers said it is likely that their next purchase will be an EV, with almost 84% saying that it is very likely. The Tesla Supercharger network access and reliability instill this confidence in the brand.
Original concerns when buying an EV: First-time EV buyers/ leasers originally thought battery range, battery lifetime, price, and public charging availability would be problems. The positive transition to EVs is arising to a significant degree due to improved battery and charging technology — batteries are being manufactured with less energy, have greater charging capacity, and will be more able to be recycled.
Decreased concerns during EV use: Vehicle availability, home charging setup costs, acceptable price, and access to home charging make EVs appealing these days.
Remaining EV concerns during use: Impact of weather on their EV, public charging reliability, and battery range continue to nag at EV drivers. [Note: The survey was fielded during the winter season. EV drivers have since learned a lot since then about advanced cold weather planning like plugging in the vehicle overnight and planning a scheduled departure.]
EV fear-factor reductions: The percentage of respondents who were worried about multiple elements of the EV experience — battery range, public charging reliability, and price, for example — decreased after their experience driving an EV.
Satisfaction with EV big picture areas: 80% to 100% of respondents were satisfied with EV comfort, safety, and performance.
Particular models that stand out for range, charging, and style: Both the Rivian R1T and Rivian R1S were the big winners in these categories.
Most common EV: You guessed it: the Tesla Model 3 was most commonly driven among the respondents.
Top 3 EV models favored: When asked to rate how satisfied they are with their primary EV overall, the Rivian R1T and R1S took the top two spots, with the Tesla Model S coming in third.
Which company infused exclusivity? Tesla came out on top as the champion of exclusivity for its consumers. Tesla drivers feel a sense of brand loyalty that drivers of other vehicles do not quite reach.
Most important overall EV purchase considerations: Clean air and environmental protections were strong motivators to purchase an EV. Driving an EV significantly reduces a person’s transportation carbon footprint, which can generally translate into a 50-70% on average reduction if a driver switches from a ICE-powered vehicle. Drivers can further curb their emissions by charging their EVs with electricity generated by renewable sources.
Nice to have but not imperative: Cutting-edge technology and style are desired but not make-or-break factors.
What matters most to younger respondents: EV cost savings and convenience hit home for younger EV consumers. It’s been made clearer and clearer — EV drivers experience savings across every EV model in every state, as an EV is cheaper to fill than a gas-powered vehicle.
Experience with incentives: The most popular incentive used was inexpensive home charging. 64% said that they took advantage of the federal EV tax credit.
Primary type of charging used: Home charging is the most typical method of charging. In sum, 91% of respondents had access to a private charger, and they use it to charge primarily overnight. Home charging overnight limits the effect on the grid during times when consumers are using very little other electricity.
Willingness to adapt charging times: 80% of respondents said they would be also be willing to change the hours in which they charge at home if they were to receive discounted electricity rates.
DC fast charging for all EV models: DC fast charging is a supplemental form of charging but not most drivers’ primary go-to option. Yet there remains a significant demand for EV charging stations that provide higher current and faster charging speeds located in a safe, flexible, consumer-friendly design.
Most popular fast charger network: By far the Tesla Supercharger network is the most popular charging destination. Tesla drivers were the exception — more likely to use the Tesla’s network’s vertically integrated system than home charging.
Popularity among other fast charger networks: Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo were runners-up to the Supercharger network, although these users did report higher concerns with reliability, availability, and more.
Final Thoughts About Reduced Consumer Fears About EVs
Consumers believe researching EVs requires a set of online sources that specialize in these vehicles, as opposed to the sites that have long appealed to gasoline-powered vehicles. When it comes to EVs, sources such as Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, and Carmax are less important to EV shoppers than automaker websites, EV-specific news sites and forums, or YouTube channels that provide reviews or other specialized information. 42% of respondents were able to find all the information they needed before deciding to buy or lease an EV.
The most common information consumers needed help finding was how their vehicles would perform on the road. Consumers are now aware that an advertised range is the maximum range for a vehicle driven in ideal circumstances. Consistent with the information sources respondents find useful and trustworthy, respondents sought real-world experiences about range, cold weather performance, and incentives and rebates.
So keep tuning into CleanTechnica. Our trusted research and analysis of EVs makes us one of the original and continuing trusted sources for electrification of personal transportation and our lives.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Latest CleanTechnica.TV Videos
[embedded content]
Advertisement
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
CleanTechnica’s Comment Policy
Share this story!