According to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance, almost all current electric vehicle (EV) owners are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to purchase another electric vehicle.
The survey of 23,000 electric car drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would choose a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.
“These results confirm that electric vehicle drivers are very satisfied with their choice and that reports of a decline in the popularity of electric vehicles are greatly exaggerated,” says Petter Haugneland, deputy secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association.
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According to research firm TrendForce, global sales of electric vehicles, including hybrids and PHEVs, are expected to reach 16.26 million in 2024, up 25% from 2023.
The survey also found that, apart from environmental concerns, the main motivation of electric vehicle buyers is that electric vehicles have lower operating costs.
“This should be an eye-opener for policymakers worldwide,” says Ellen Hiep, board member of the Dutch Electric Vehicle Drivers Association. “While a vibrant electric vehicle market is critical to reducing climate emissions from road transport, achieving this goal depends on making electric vehicles an even more affordable option for everyone.”
In the US, the new Trump administration plans to eliminate the current $7,500 federal tax credit for purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle.
According to a study by JD Powers, incentives have played a critical role in consumer decisions: 64% of premium electric vehicle owners said that incentives were a primary reason for their decision to purchase or lease their electric vehicle. Among mass-market electric vehicle owners, 49% chose their vehicles based on tax credits and incentives.
Incentive programs were cited as a top reason for purchase by 81% of Volkswagen buyers, 77% of Chevrolet buyers and 72% of Tesla buyers. In contrast, only 32% of Hyundai buyers, 24% of Kia buyers and 21% of Toyota buyers said incentives were a primary reason for choosing their vehicle.
