From October to December, Deloitte surveyed 31,000 consumers in 30 countries for its 13th Global Automotive Consumer Study.
In China, 44% of respondents said they prefer their next vehicle to be an EV (either battery electric or plug-in), compared to 38% who said they prefer an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. In Germany, 23% chose EV versus 53% for ICE. In the United States, the preference was 11% for EV and 62% for ICE, though the U.S. also had the highest preference for hybrid vehicles at 26% of respondents.
Among U.S. respondents who prefer an EV, the top reasons were:
- 56%: Lower fuel costs
- 44%: Concern for environment
- 36%: Driving experience
- 30%: Less maintenance
- 27%: Government incentives
- 25%: Use the vehicle as a backup battery
In a sign that c-stores have more work to do to sell themselves as charging destinations, 79% of U.S. respondents said they prefer charging at home, 10% at a public charging station and 11% at work. Of the public charging options in the U.S., respondents expressed a stronger preference for a dedicated EV charging station (44%) over a “traditional gas station with EV chargers” (15%).
Asked what the most important aspect of an EV charging experience is, U.S. consumers responded:
- 29%: Fast charging time
- 14%: Accessibility of the charging station
- 13%: Ease of use
- 10%: Personal security
- 9%: Availability of amenities
Earlier this month, NACS Daily reported that General Motors and Ford Motor each posted strong U.S. vehicle sales in the final three months of 2024, buoying expectations for continued growth in 2025. According to the New York Times, GM’s fourth-quarter sales rose 21% over the previous year to more than 755,000 vehicles, with its EV sales more than doubling to 43,982. Ford sold more than 530,000 vehicles in the quarter, an increase of nearly 9%, including 30,176 EVs, which is up 16%.
The Transportation Energy Institute recently published a white paper, incorporating NACS survey data, that examines consumer attitudes and opinions about alternative transportation options.