The Real Reason The Switch To EVs Faces A Massive Challenge: Study

EV owners love their cars, but gas owners remain deeply skeptical.

Electric vehicles remain a polarizing subject, with current EV owners overwhelmingly likely to buy another one, while non-EV owners are unlikely to make the switch, according to a survey conducted by AutoGuide across the VerticalScope Fora communities platform.

We asked the question: Will your next car be electric?

A whopping 88% of existing EV owners and enthusiasts said they would buy another one, with just 4% saying they would not and 8% undecided. Conversely, only 11% of non-EV owners are interested in buying one, while 78% are not, with 11% undecided.

That’s quite the gap.

The survey covered 32 unique communities that discuss EVs and non-EVs across all segments of the automotive marketplace, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. Eleven of the forums are EV-based, with the remainder featuring primarily non-electric discussions. AutoGuide and Fora are owned by VerticalScope.

“Our surveys show the expected gap between EV and non-EV owners, but with new electric products launching and some companies, like General Motors, putting up strong financial results for EVs, the future of the technology appears promising,” said VerticalScope Editorial Director Greg Migliore. “Pricing and infrastructure will be the deciding factors in how quickly EVs gain market share for the rest of the decade.”

Users cast their votes in December and January against the backdrop of uncertainty over electric vehicles in the United States, with the pro-EV policies of former President Joe Biden likely to be modified or cast aside by President Donald Trump, including the $7,500 tax credit and federal mpg targets.

Overall, with 1,433 votes cast, 679 members voted yes (47%), 616 voted no (43%) and 138 (10%) said they were undecided as to whether their next vehicle will be electric. The figure was heavily tilted by EV forums that primarily discuss EVs, such as TeslaOwnersOnline (92% yes) and just 1% said no, with 7% undecided. In fact, just one Tesla user voted no.

“One hundred percent [I’ll buy another EV], unless I'm somehow priced out of it. I like the lack of gas stops, ‘filling up’ at home and the simplicity and lower maintenance,” one TeslaOwnersOnline user wrote.

Similar enthusiasm was found among Rivian (91% yes) and Chevy Bolt (89%) owners, though the newly launched Chevy Equinox EV (95%) generated the single highest yes percentage in the survey. The Equinox EV has been a hit for Chevy, with significant sales. The bowtie brand has found a way to bring in new EV owners and convert them with a solid package that’s attractively priced. Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and Chevy Blazer EV owners were all nearly as enthusiastic about their electric vehicles.

An EquinoxEVForum user said: “I’m on my second EV now and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one in the future. I love the concept, smoothness of the drivetrain, little maintenance and the quietness.”

Kia (89%) and Hyundai (83%) have also built a base of EV owners, with users from these EV-focused brand communities strongly indicating they will buy another electric, and at least 15% of non-EV owners saying they will buy an electric for their next vehicle. Similarly, the VW ID.4 and ID.Buzz seem to have resonated with their owners, with 84% percent of the VW electric forum reporting they will buy another EV.

While U.S. and Korean companies have invested heavily in EVs, Japanese automakers have taken a more cautious approach, which is reflected in the survey. Honda Accord (73%) and Civic (81%) buyers were 73% not interested in buying an EV, similar to rival Toyota’s (86%) opposition. These companies emphasize hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, though they all offer some EVs in their portfolios.

Those least likely to buy an EV for their next vehicle include LX-platform owners – Dodge Chargers, Magnums, Challengers and Chrysler 300s – and Dodge owners as a whole – zero of whom said their next vehicle would be electric. While these are generally internal combustion engine-based forums, perhaps data like this compelled Dodge to add the Hurricane six-cylinder to the new Charger lineup. Nissan owners surveyed on a mostly gas-focused Nissan community were also part of the zero-percent club.

“Nope. The technology & infrastructure won't be sufficiently on par with fossil fuels before I die,” one LX Forums user commented.

Mercedes, Jeep and Silverado/Sierra owners all fell in the low yes category: between 5 and 8%, but were at least open to the idea of owning an EV, with 8% to 12% undecided.

“I am more in favor of hybrids than a pure BEV,” a Jeep Forum user wrote. “A hybrid setup makes way more sense. Honda has their hybrids dialed in with the hybrid Accords. The idea of an alternate powerplant is nice, [but] the infrastructure is not there yet to fully support it, nor is the technology there yet. Give me a Jeep with 400-500 mile range doing Jeep stuff, towing, etc. with the infrastructure to support it and having a 10-minute recharge and I'm there. Until then, no.”

Perhaps the greatest opportunity lies among the undecideds. Ten percent of respondents checked that box, which in a market forecast to be more than 16 million in the US this year would equate to 1.6 million new sales – significant growth in the EV market that has hovered below 10 percent of total sales most months.

Earlier VerticalScope EV surveys showed mixed results toward the technology, with 9% reporting their EV has left them stranded last year, though only 6% percent are disappointed with their ownership experience.

For more information on this survey, contact Editorial Director Greg Migliore gmigliore@verticalscope.com.