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Three in four U.S. drivers believe ‘EVs are the future of driving,’ survey says

Results of a new survey show that nearly three in four U.S. drivers believe electric vehicles are “the future of driving.”

The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Volvo Car USA, and Volvo released the results today in a report titled “The State of Electric Vehicles in America.” Of all drivers surveyed, 74 percent said EVs were the future. That number rose to 79 percent among EV drivers.

The survey results reveal a number of other interesting beliefs on electric vehicles, as well. Among non-EV drivers surveyed, “more charging stations” was cited as the top factor that would increase one’s likelihood to buy an EV, with 61 percent feeling that way. Also, 58 percent of all drivers listed “running out of power” as the top barrier to purchasing an EV, and nearly half of all drivers cited the “low availability of charging stations.”

So “range anxiety” still seems to be an issue, even topping price concerns. Among non-EV drivers, 57 percent would be more likely to buy EVs if they were the same price as ICE vehicles. Results from another survey released earlier this month found that two out of three U.S. drivers might be willing to pay more for an EV.

Three-fourths of EV drivers agreed that “the long-term savings on gas outweigh the higher upfront price tag of buying an electric vehicle.” Only 60 percent of overall drivers said the same.

Only about one out of every four non-EV drivers said that “styling similar to traditional vehicles” would make them any more likely to buy an EV. Relatively speaking, that doesn’t seem to be a priority for drivers. Furthermore, 76 percent of EV drivers said they “like the differentiated design of electric vehicles,” which should make automakers more willing to consider bold design changes.

What EV drivers want

The survey asked EV drivers what they want to see more of at public charging stations. Drivers are more concerned with leaving a charging station than enjoying their time while there. A “quick charge option to pay more to charge in half the time” was wanted by almost half of EV drivers. That bested other desires, such as having a coffee shop or café with Wi-Fi, or a gym/fitness facility at a charging station.

Somewhat alarmingly, the survey found that simply driving an EV made drivers feel they were alleviating “green guilt.” Among EV drivers, 73 percent agreed that “their vehicle makes them feel better about making less environmentally conscious decisions in other areas of life.”

Overall numbers point to EV satisfaction. The survey found 85 percent of EV drivers are satisfied with their vehicles, and 55 percent of EV drivers “are so hooked on their EVs that they say they’ll never go back to a gas vehicle.”

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll in October 2018. It included 1,510 U.S. drivers ages 18 and older, and 250 who currently drive or have driven EVs in the last year.

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