PALO ALTO, Calif. – While all-electric vehicles (EVs) like the Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model S seem far more common now than they were a few years ago, a new Harris Poll indicates that demand for EVs—which represent only about 3% of the market including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full battery-electric—has not changed significantly since 2012.
The most recent poll was conducted earlier this summer and asked consumers the same questions as their 2013 poll, including whether car shoppers would consider purchasing an EV. According to the results, from 2013 to 2015, an identical proportion—48%—of Americans who own cars (or anticipate buying a car) say that they would consider a hybrid, while plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles were up just 2% since 2013, to 29 and 21%, respectively.
One of the biggest barriers for electric vehicle consideration isn’t at all surprising: It’s cost. Electric vehicles, even considering tax credits and incentives, usually cost significantly more than otherwise comparable gasoline models. Range anxiety also continues to be an issue for potential EV buyers.
According to Green Car Reports, the full list of buyer concerns for EVs includes:
- Price (67%)
- Range (64%)
- Repair/maintenance costs (58%)
- Reliability (53%)
- Performance/power (50%)
- That it’s a new technology (42%)
From the 2013 poll to the 2015 one, the percentage of respondents with each of those concerns either stayed the same or went up slightly, except for those who cited “new technology” as a detrimental factor.
According to the poll, men are more likely than women to be interested in electric cars or diesel models. And pure electric vehicles now rank slightly higher in shopper consideration than diesels. Older shoppers in both polls were far more concerned about price and range than younger shoppers, and by region, those in the Midwest were considerably more likely to be concerned about the price and range factors.
For more insight on electric vehicle adoption, read “Charging Forward or Shorting Out” in NACS Magazine, or visit the Fuels Institute for research on EVs and other alternative vehicles.