It’s no secret that choosing a new car is challenging. Today's car buyer is presented with hundreds of options, each with its own pros and cons.
Perhaps the biggest debate is deciding between an electric vehicle (EV) or a traditional gas-powered car.
While driving past gas stations and reducing your carbon footprint is intriguing, it's not enough of a draw for most Americans.
A survey conducted by Drive Research shows 51% of respondents will not even consider buying an electric car for their next purchase.
Other electrical vehicle statistics from the survey include:
- 78% of drivers don't want to purchase an electric vehicle because of the shorter driving range than gas-powered vehicles
- 52% of drivers would consider purchasing an EV because of lower/no fuel costs
Keep on reading to learn more about the electric vehicle statistics our online survey company found.
Top Barriers to Purchasing an Electric Vehicle
What is preventing car drivers from going green? 78% of U.S. consumers do not want to purchase an electric vehicle because of the shorter driving range than gas-powered vehicles.
Other top barriers to considering an electric car included:
- Difficulty in finding/planning for a charging station (73%)
- High cost of a battery replacement (73%)
- Expensiveness (69%)
Of all respondents, baby boomers (those born before 1965) were the most opposed generation to buying an EV.
Top Reasons for Purchasing an Electric Car
Our automotive market research company found a third of national respondents (32%) were at least somewhat likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle - with almost a quarter (23%) indicating they were very likely.
The top reasons for considering an electric vehicle included:
- Lower/no fuel costs (52%)
- Better for the environment (50%)
- Less expensive and less frequent maintenance (41%)
- Run more quietly (27%)
- Tax credits and incentives (27%)
Of all respondents, millennials (those born between 1977 and 1995) are the generation who would most consider buying an EV for their next car purchase.
Electric Vehicle Emissions Data
Electric vehicles still release over 3,000 pounds in emissions
Yes, it’s true that electric vehicles produce fewer emissions than gas-run vehicles.
That said, EVs still produce roughly 3,932 pounds in emissions annually. It was also found that hybrid vehicles release roughly 2,000 more emissions than EVs.
Interestingly, 35% of greenhouse gas emissions for EVs are released during the manufacturing process.
But let’s not forget gasoline and plug-in hybrid vehicles. How much do they emit?
- Gas-run vehicles: 11,000+ pounds
- Plug-in hybrid vehicles: 5,000+ pounds
EVs Remain an Environmentally-Friendly Way to Drive
A widely-known electric vehicle fact is that they’re thought to be better for the environment.
Even though EVs produce emissions, they’re still much better for the environment than standard gas-run vehicles.
Much of the emissions from EVs are released as they charge.
But according to experts, even that figure can differ based on where the cars are located and the type of energy used.
That's because much of the emissions produced by EVs will vary depending on their geographic location.
For example, EVs have significant life cycle emissions in locations that rely on low-pollution sources for energy. This life cycle is notably higher than gas-run vehicles.
EV Batteries Can Be Recycled, Reducing Pollution Risk
While there are a number of electric vehicle statistics about emissions during production, recycling can cut down on this issue.
Recycling EV batteries can decrease lifecycle emissions.
In fact, up to 70% of a Tesla Model S battery will be used again if recycled.
Say Goodbye to Slow Battery-Charge Times
While we’re on the topic of electric vehicle facts about batteries, did you know that EV batteries are quick chargers?
For those on the go, the batteries can get up to 80% charged in half an hour. How’s that for speed?
EVs Are Safe For More Than Just the Environment
EVs may be a safer option when compared to gas-powered vehicles
It’s well-known that larger cars tend to fare better in crashes, simply because there’s more “car” to protect the driver.
Believe it or not, there are electric vehicle statistics that reveal similar data for these cars.
Designed with a low center of gravity, EVs carry more weight, which helps prevent rollover accidents.
The safest EVs include:
- Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Kia EV6
- Hyundai Ioniq5
Passenger Injuries are Significantly Lower in EVs
Spanning from 2011 to 2019, it was reported that EV drivers and passengers reported fewer injury claims than standard vehicles by over 40%.
Additionally, EVs are known to feature superior safety technology which could also be a reason for this.
10% of Vehicles Sold Last Year Were Electric
In 2022, electric cars made up 10 percent of vehicles purchased across the globe.
More specifically in the United States, less than 6 percent of new cars sold in 2022 were fully electric vehicles - nearly doubling the number of EVs purchased in 2021.
Additionally, as EV sales continue to increase, it’s estimated 50% of vehicles sold will be electric by 2030.
The US is the Second-Largest Manufacturer of EVs
Coming in first is China, with America right behind at close to one million EV sales in 2022. Before the US took over number two, Germany held the spot.
What’s more, US sales of EVs are expected to surpass one million this year due to hefty tax credits.
Tesla Remains the Most Popular Electric Vehicle Brand
Much of the current electric vehicle statistics revolve around–shocker–Tesla, but for good reason! The EV titan sold over 500,000 vehicles in 2022.
In fact, of all the EVs sold last year (978,488) half of those were Teslas.
Tesla aside, Ford and Chevy models make up some of the best-selling EVs
Popular models include:
- Ford Mustang Mach-E (39,458 sales in 2022)
- Chevy Bolt EV/EUV (38,120 sales in 2022)
- Kia EV6 (29,498 sales in 2022)
California is Home to the most EV drivers in the US
California has the highest national share of (used) EVs at 23%.
Runner-ups include:
- Texas (13.9%)
- Florida (8%)
- Arizona (4%)
- Georgia (3%)
Recommended Reading: 45% of People Admit to Texting and Driving (+ Other Car Driver Statistics
Details About the Drive Research Study
Survey Methodology
- The survey received 866 responses
- Fieldwork was conducted with adult residents (18 years or older) of the United States.
- Fieldwork for the survey began on May 28 and lasted until Jun 28, 2021.
- The electric vehicle survey included 10 questions and took respondents an average of 3 minutes to complete.
Survey Questions
- How likely are you to consider an electric vehicle (EV) for your next automobile purchase?
- What are your main reason(s) for considering an electric vehicle (EV)?
- What are the main barrier(s) to considering an electric vehicle (EV)?
Respondent Profile (By Gender)
- 1% of respondents were Generation Z.
- 7% of respondents were Millennials.
- 13% of respondents were Generation X.
- 62% of respondents were Baby Boomers.
- 17% of respondents were Traditionalists.
Respondent Profile (By Age)
- 74% of respondents were male.
- 24% of respondents were female.
- 2% of respondents were nonbinary.
Drive Research is a national PR survey company located in New York. Our market research firm works with a variety of organizations, helping deliver insights, action items, and ROI on their survey efforts.
Our research has been featured in top-tier media outlets including USA Today, CNBC, Forbes, Spectrum, Yahoo Finance, and Statista.
For more insights on our survey process, read our Ultimate Guide to Custom PR Surveys.
To learn more about our market research services, contact our team today.
- Message us on our website
- Email us at [email protected]
- Call us at 888-725-DATA
- Text us at 315-303-2040
Emily Rodgers
A SUNY Cortland graduate, Emily has taken her passion for social and content marketing to Drive Research as the Marketing Manager. She has earned certificates for both Google Analytics and Google AdWords.
Learn more about Emily, here.
