Three-quarters (76%) of those interested cite a desire to save on the cost of fuel as one of their reasons, followed by concern for the environment (60%).
Millennials are more likely to say they would buy a fully electric vehicle for their next vehicle (31%) than Generation X (21%) and Baby Boomers (18%).
Consumers who are interested in buying electric vehicles are most interested in purchasing new. Six in ten (58%) of those saying they are likely to purchase an electric vehicle for their next vehicle say they would purchase new, one quarter (26%) would purchase used, and 16% are unsure.
The key reasons consumers would purchase an electric vehicle are saving on gas (76%) and concern for the environment (60%).
However, cost (59%), lack of charging stations (56%), cost to replace or repair the battery (55%) and range anxiety (53%) remain the primary barriers to purchasing an electric vehicle, for those undecided or unlikely to buy an EV.
In addition, four in ten consumers are concerned about the impact cold weather has on an electric vehicle’s range, a factor that can reduce the battery’s range substantially.
AAA encourages consumers to learn more about the benefits associated with EV ownership to decide if going electric is right for them.
METHODOLOGY
The survey was conducted March 2-7, 2023, using a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population overall. The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97% of the U.S. household population. Most surveys were completed online; consumer without Internet access were surveyed over the phone. A total of 1,170 interviews were completed among U.S. adults, 18 years of age or older. The margin of error for the study overall is +/- 4.1% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups have larger error margins