Volkswagen of America has announced that Electric Vehicles (EVs) momentum and consideration are growing sharply with American SUV owners and shoppers. The survey conducted by the company found that the SUV owners and shoppers appreciate their environmental benefit of no direct emissions, despite the fact that many of them have no experience of driving an electric vehicle.
To gauge the appetite for EVs, the new survey polled 1,000 SUV owners and 500 SUV shoppers in the US who are looking to purchase one in the next six months. The survey found that overall, more than 70% had never had the chance to drive an EV. Yet, 65% of owners and 76% of shoppers are more interested in EVs than they were a year ago.
Almost half of the owners (45%) and nearly six in ten shoppers (58%) say they are likely to buy an EV the next time they purchase a vehicle.
Emerging trends
The survey also identified certain trends around EVs. It said that the interest in EVs is growing particularly because of environmental concerns, but many do not have experience with them. More than eight in 10 owners (81%) and shoppers (85%) agree it would be good for the environment if there were more zero direct emission EVs on the roads.
People who drive more miles per week are more likely to consider an EV. Two-thirds of SUV owners driving 201 plus miles per week (66%) are interested in purchasing an EV, compared to 52% of those driving 100 miles a week or less.
Hurdles
Cost, range and charging availability remain concerns for prospective EV owners. Vehicle cost is one of the top purchase barriers for SUV owners (58%) and shoppers (57%). For both owners and shoppers, cost (both vehicle cost and home charging station cost), limited charging station availability, limited range and charging time are the top hurdles to EV ownership.
The survey identified that many SUV owners and shoppers do not know about the potential EV purchase incentives; however, they favour more of them. Only 22% of SUV owners and 31% of SUV shoppers were aware of the potential federal tax credit for EV buyers of up to $7,500; just 15% of SUV shoppers knew of potential state and local incentives. Yet 77% of SUV owners and 81% of SUV shoppers said governments and other organisations should offer incentives to help people switch to electric driving.
Dustin Krause, Director of e-Mobility at Volkswagen of America, Inc., said, “The findings from this survey affirm that our strategy at Volkswagen of bringing affordable, approachable electric vehicles to the US aligns with what Americans are looking for. Our all-new ID.4 addresses many of the hesitations prospective shoppers have with EVs, such as range anxiety, cost and more.”
Volkswagen recently launched the ID.4 - its first long-range electric SUV in an effort to democratise EVs and help make them more accessible. A key part of the company’s commitment is to make its business and vehicles carbon neutral by 2050. The ID.4 marries the strengths of a purpose-built EV with performance, packaging and value, and is now arriving to dealerships across the country.