According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports, it was revealed that customers are not entirely sold on getting an EV for certain reasons. It was that they are not sure about the availability of a charging station, and if they can charge the vehicle on time. They are less concerned about other things like how the vehicle could perform in cold weather or if the car will be fixed soon enough.
The survey indicated that around 61% of the respondents were specific about the charging infrastructure. Their concerns prevented them from buying an EV. Furthermore, the respondents also said that the EV range and its cost also pose a major barrier.
Increasing charging infrastructure is a top priority for US President Joe Biden. In June, the Biden Administration proposed a $7.5 billion investment in a national network of 500,000 EV charging stations. But, the current number of charging stations in the US is far from ideal. According to the US Department of Energy, there are just over 56,000 public EV charging stations in the country to date.
Other concerns
Consumer Reports is not the first to identify charging logistics and driving range as primary deter rants for US drivers. Last year, it was reported that one in five EV owners in California switched back to gas because charging posed too much of a hassle. Electric car drivers have reported similar concerns. In June, a reporter from The Wall Street Journal took an electric car on a 2,000-mile road trip and found that charging availability, as well as the speed of EV chargers, added hours to her trip.
Consumer Reports surveyed over 8,000 US adults to measure consumer interest in buying an electric car. The poll took place between January 27 and February 18 — a time when the average gas price was under $4 per gallon, per AAA. The organization found that about 71% of Americans surveyed would consider buying an electric car, though only about 36% of survey respondents said they would definitely buy or lease one or at least “seriously consider” getting an electric car.
“The survey shows that there is clear interest among Americans in reducing costs for transportation and lowering their environmental impact,” Quinta Warren, the organization’s associate director of sustainability policy, said in a press release. “It underscores some key concerns, but fortunately, many of these barriers to owning a battery-electric vehicle EV can be addressed through experience and education.” In March, it was reported that interest in buying electric cars was on the rise due to surging gas prices. Since fuel prices have spiked as high as a national average of over $5 per gallon.
