A recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC reveals that despite the Biden administration’s goal of having two-thirds of cars be electric by 2032, many Americans are not ready to make the change.
The survey, which looks at how the public feels about electric vehicles (EVs), shows that almost half of the U.S. population is unlikely to buy an electric car in the near future.
The 2023 poll found that 46% of Americans are either “not too likely” or “not at all likely” to purchase an EV as their next vehicle.
These results are similar to the previous year’s poll, where 47% of people said they were unlikely to go electric.
When it comes to current EV ownership, the poll shows that only 9% of U.S. adults said they or someone in their household owns or leases an electric vehicle.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra tells NBC News that the storied automaker's plan to turn its fleet 100% electric “will be led by what customers want," amid a softening sales environment for electric vehicles in the U.S.
@tomcostellonbc has the details. pic.twitter.com/DLNt17xYyh— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) June 4, 2024
This is a small increase from the previous year’s 8%, showing that the shift to EVs is happening slowly.
Looking to the future, the poll indicates that most Americans are still unsure about switching to electric vehicles.
Only 21% of people said they were either “very” or “extremely” likely to buy an EV for their next car, while another 21% said they were “somewhat likely” to do so.
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The hesitation to switch to electric vehicles seems to come from practical concerns.
According to the poll, half of the people mentioned the limited range of EVs as a major issue, while about 40% were worried about long charging times and the lack of charging stations near them.
These findings highlight the big challenges that the Biden administration and the car industry face in their efforts to speed up the move to electric vehicles.
The fact that American consumers are hesitant to switch to EVs, along with the current limitations of the technology, suggests that a quick shift to mostly electric vehicles may be difficult.
As the government and industry leaders continue to push for more people to use electric vehicles, it is clear that addressing consumer worries and investing in the necessary infrastructure will be key to overcoming the current obstacles to EV ownership.
Electric vehicles are terrible for the environment.
As The NYT reported last year, "production of raw materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel that are essential to [EV] technologies are often ruinous to land, water, wildlife and people." pic.twitter.com/4uP2TtXg4m
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 31, 2022
Without a strong effort to reduce range anxiety, improve charging speeds, and build more charging stations, the goal of having two-thirds of cars be electric by 2032 may be too optimistic.
The poll’s results remind us that consumer preferences and practical considerations cannot be ignored in the pursuit of a greener transportation future.
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The success of the transition will ultimately depend on whether American consumers are willing to embrace this new technology and whether policymakers and industry leaders can address the concerns that currently hold back widespread adoption.
