With established automakers like Mercedes-Benz and newcomers like Byton announcing electric vehicles (EVs) at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, CarGurus conducted a survey to learn more about consumers’ thoughts and experiences with EVs.
Interestingly, we found that while 64 percent of shoppers are excited about the prospect of saving money on fuel with an EV, 65 percent are concerned about how expensive they are. Despite this paradox, respondents seem to think EVs will take time, with 15 percent of respondents noting they would probably or definitely own an EV in the next 5 years, and 34 percent noting the same over the next 10.
The survey also uncovered that one of the biggest indicators of excitement about EVs is accessible charging stations. Those who have charging stations near their home or work are more likely to be excited, not concerned, about EVs.
When diving into the EV brands that are most trusted and most driven, Tesla was number one in both, with 29 percent and 33 percent, respectively. However, Toyota ranked second in each category, suggesting that more EV education is necessary when considering that Toyota makes hybrid vehicles like the Prius.
And even though some have wondered if the sedan is dead, our survey suggests that EVs may keep this body style alive for new cars. We learned that 31 percent of shoppers would most likely consider an EV that’s a sedan, with 26 percent of shoppers interested in an EV that’s an SUV.
The survey also looked into the most important features that shoppers consider when shopping for an EV. The top three features are:
- Range (44 percent)
- Charging speed (21 percent)
- Speed/performance (13 percent)
We’ll be taking a closer look at these features for the EVs at the LA Auto Show this week. Check back here to see how they stack up.
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