AAA sees interest in EVs declining

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – AAA’s most recent annual consumer survey on electric vehicles shows a decline in consumer interest in purchasing EVs.

The survey shows the number of U.S. adults who say they’d be likely to buy an EV is down 23% from last year.

During the past several years, there was a boom in the electric vehicle market. In April 2023, the Biden Administration proposed plans to ensure two-thirds of new passenger cars and quarter of ne heavy trucks sold in the United States are all-electric by 2032.

It sounded like a lofty goal then and according to AAA, it’s getting loftier.

“It’s been interesting to look at the changes in consumer sentiment towards EV ownership,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins with AAA Bluegrass.

Weaver Hawkins says the company did a survey of around 1,100 adults. Sixty-three percent responded they would be “unlikely or very unlikely” to purchase an EV for their next vehicle purchase. One of the reasons, people surveyed say, is a lack of infrastructure to support EVs.

“They’re concerned about having that quick-charging station available to them,” she said.

Drivers in our region know there are many stretches with few places to even stop to get gas, and many travel to our surrounding cities for events and shopping.

“Am I going to be able to get out to those larger metro areas without that infrastructure built?” said Weaver Hawkins about concerns of drivers.

However, the survey also showed drivers still care about their carbon footprint. One in three said they would be likely to buy a hybrid.

“That actually addresses a lot of the concerns they have about going fully electric,” Weaver Hawkins said.

Three in 10 surveyed also cited the inability to install a charging station where they live as a reason to skip out on an EV.

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