Only 16 percent of U.S. adults are likely to purchase an EV as their next vehicle, according to a recent survey from AAA.
This is the lowest reported level of consumer interest in buying EVs since 2019. The number of consumers saying they are unlikely to purchase an EV rose from 52 percent to 63 percent, the highest reported number since 2022.
“Since we began tracking interest in fully electric vehicles, we’ve seen some variability,” said director of automotive engineering at AAA Greg Bannon in AAA’s press release. “While the automotive industry is committed to long-term electrification and providing a diverse range of models, underlying consumer hesitation remains.”
One of the most significant concerns consumers have about EV ownership is the high cost of battery repairs. According to the survey, 62 percent of respondents said those costs put them off the idea of going electric.
North of the border, interest in buying EVs is also waning but remains significantly stronger than in the U.S.
The J.D. Power 2025 Canada Electric Vehicle Consideration Study states that Canadian consumers' interest in purchasing an EV has held steady at 28 percent, dropping a single percentage from 2024, despite the declining sentiment for EV purchasing in the U.S.
The study mentioned 42 percent of respondents who would consider buying an EV as their next vehicle say a pause in the $5,000 per vehicle incentive program would have a negative effect on their likelihood of purchasing.
