Electric vehicle (EV) interest is still strong in the United States despite all the press saying sales were in decline. Technically, that is true, but they’ve rebounded since the second quarter. Americans are still very interested in them, and more are willing to listen to dealers about the benefits of zero-emission vehicles, including hybrids and plug-in hybrid (PH) versions. Test drives are also becoming more desired as people shop for a new car.
A Consumer Reports survey released in October found that half of the Americans surveyed would be interested in test-driving an EV next time they’re at a dealership. Only 13% said they would be unsure, and 37% said they had no interest.
The results showed that around one in three car dealerships had shoppers looking for information about zero-emission cars. Around 46% said the information they received was merely satisfactory, while 28% were very satisfied. Consumer Reports said this number is good, but there is still room for improvement.
“Consumer interest in cleaner vehicle types continues to be strong, but many consumers still have a lot of questions,” Chris Harto, senior policy analyst for transportation and energy at Consumer Reports, said in a press release. “They need help navigating the rapid technological change occurring in the car market.”
Photo Courtesy Mylo Heemsbergen
While half of the survey participants said they would be interested in test-driving an EV, not everyone responded “yes” when asked if they would buy the EV outright.
The survey was administered by NORC at the University of Chicago through the AmeriSpeak Panel. Interviews were conducted by phone and online. Around 2,150 people answered the survey, with interviews conducted in English and Spanish. Other factors included in the data collection included gender, race, ethnicity, housing status, education, and Census data.
Questions asked were “Have you shopped for a new or used vehicle at a car dealership in the past 12 months?” and “How satisfied were you with the information you received about hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicles during your most recent experience shopping for a new or used vehicle at a dealership?”
Previous research from Consumer Reports shows that test drives are one of the key tools in EV purchases. It seems like a no-brainer: why would someone purchase any vehicle, gas or electric, without a test drive?
However, EV test drives are different due to the varying power levels between electric and fossil fuels. Test-driving an EV can open a driver’s eyes to acceleration, noise, range, and cost. Gas-powered cars are well understood. Since EVs are still a novelty to some, and people are unaware of how powerful they can be. A direct experience with an EV shows a more positive relationship between consumers and thoughts of purchases.
“The data seems to be showing that once more consumers get some first-hand experience with EVs, demand could accelerate swiftly,” Harto said in February.
Photo Courtesy Michael Kahn
To sell more EVs, though, dealerships and dealers have to present all the information about them to customers. That includes charging networks, home charging, performance in extreme weather conditions, and battery life cycle.
One problem is many dealerships lack the knowledge or desire to learn about EVs. To combat this issue, companies like General Motors are sponsoring EV education seminars for Chevrolet dealers to remedy the situation. They’re also facing competition from EV producers who embraced a more retail and digital approach to sales.
2024 has been an up-and-down year for EVs. Interest waned early before slowly rebounding in the second half of the year. Consumer Reports noted that almost 50% of potential EV customers are aware of the tax benefits offered upon purchase. Cox Automotive says that’s one of the biggest drivers of EV sales.
“The growth is being fueled in part by Incentives and discounts, but as more affordable EVs enter the market and infrastructure improves, we can expect even greater adoption in the coming years,” Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive, said in a Market Insight article.
EVs hit another milestone in the third quarter thanks to better incentives and a growing line of choices. Between the number of legacy automakers producing EVs and all the startup brands becoming mainstream, there’s never been a better time to own an EV. Charging networks are also expanding rapidly.
Not everyone will transition to EVs, even if government mandates start requiring them. Some people may buy one EV to use as a short-range vehicle and keep a gas one for longer distances, a strategy many agree on. Each vehicle type has distinct advantages, but one with fewer emissions may become preferred.
