A survey of consumers in New Jersey and other northeastern states finds that 55% have no intention of ever buying a fully electric vehicle despite government mandates that will prohibit the sale of new gas-powered cars in the not-so-distant future.
In New Jersey, EVs must comprise 51% of all new cars sold by 2027. The phase-in increases annually ahead of a complete ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. EV sales mandates will also be implemented in other northeastern states, including New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and Delaware.
Nevertheless, an AAA Northeast survey of consumers in the region finds that 55% have no plans to ever purchase an EV at all. Thirty-seven percent say they already own one or plan to buy one by 2035 and 8% say they will buy one but not until 2036 or later.
“Auto manufacturers hoping to boost EV sales over the next decade have reason for optimism,” Shani Jarvis, outreach manager for AAA Northeast, said. “But industry stakeholders seeking a complete long-term transition to electric face serious obstacles – especially from consumers who have no desire to make the switch.”
The higher price of EVs, anxiety about how far the vehicle will go before losing its charge and concerns about the scarcity of public EV charging stations top the list of consumer concerns, the survey found. Drivers want faster chargers and EV charging stations located in safe areas because right now it takes considerably longer to recharge an EV’s battery than it does to fill up a car’s gas tank.
Surprisingly, the survey also found that 24% of non-EV owners said they do not feel confident in their ability to operate an EV. Braking and acceleration feel different in an electric vehicle than what drivers may be used to in a gas-powered car.
However, people who know EV owners were generally more confident (48%) in their ability to operate an EV than people who don’t know EV owners (28%).
“It’s understandable that people might not feel comfortable hopping in an electric car and taking it for a spin if their whole driving career has been in gas-powered vehicles,” said Alec Slatky, managing director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast in a statement on Thursday. “It’s worth seeing if you can take a test drive at a dealership or at an EV community event to get a taste of what it would be like to have one.”
