Only 4 in 10 Americans say they would buy an EV, as new EPA rules loom

Apr 11, 2023

Karah Rucker Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Editor/Producer)

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On April 12, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to announce new tailpipe emission standards designed to effectively force the auto industry to phase out the sale of many gas-powered cars. But a new poll shows the majority of Americans do not prefer their next car to be electric.

4 out of 10 Americans say they are at least somewhat likely to make the switch from gas to electric, but high prices and the lack of charging stations are steering buyers away from EVs.

In the first quarter of 2023, 7% of cars sold were electric. But in seven years, the Biden administration says that figure needs to be at least 50%.

The EPA plans to announce strict pollution standards, forcing automakers to comply and transition to electric more quickly. Car companies have their hesitations with the swift timeline as they’re investing billions into factories and battery technology to make the switch.

Only 19% of adults say it’s extremely likely they will purchase an EV the next time they buy a car. 22% are somewhat likely, and 47% say it’s not likely they will go electric.

6 out of 10 people surveyed said EVs cost too much at an average of $58,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

While the government is full steam ahead on its green energy agenda, Americans seem skeptical of the transition.

Tags: Auto industry, Electric Vehicle Batteries, Electric vehicles, Energy, Environmental Protection Agency

KARAH RUCKER: ON APRIL 12, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PLANS TO ANNOUNCE TOUGH NEW TAILPIPE EMISSION STANDARDS DESIGNED TO EFFECTIVELY FORCE THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO PHASE OUT THE SALE OF MANY GAS-POWERED CARS. BUT A NEW POLL SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DO NOT PREFER THAT THEIR NEXT CAR BE ELECTRIC.

FOUR OUT OF TEN AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT LIKELY TO MAKE THE SWITCH FROM GAS TO ELECTRIC. BUT HIGH PRICES AND A DEARTH OF CHARGING STATIONS ARE STEERING BUYERS AWAY FROM EV’S.

IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR – SEVEN PERCENT OF CARS SOLD WERE ELECTRIC. BUT IN SEVEN YEARS – THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT FIGURE NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST 50 PERCENT.

THE EPA PLANS TO ANNOUNCE STRICT POLLUTION STANDARDS – FORCING AUTOMAKERS TO COMPLY AND TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC FASTER – CAR COMPANIES HAVE THEIR HESITATIONS WITH THE SWIFT TIMELINE AS THEY’RE INVESTING BILLIONS INTO FACTORIES AND BATTERY TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE SWITCH.

ONLY 19 PERCENT OF ADULTS SAY IT’S EXTREMELY LIKELY THEY’LL PURCHASE AN E-V THE NEXT TIME THEY BUY A CAR. 22 PERCENT ARE SOMEWHAT LIKELY. AND 47 PERCENT SAY IT’S NOT LIKELY THEY’LL GO ELECTRIC.

6 OUT OF TEN SURVEYED SAID EV’S COST TOO MUCH AT AN AVERAGE OF 58 THOUSAND ACCORDING TO KELLEY BLUE BOOK.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS FULL STEAM AHEAD ON ITS GREEN ENERGY AGENDA – AMERICANS SEEM SKEPTICAL OF THE TRANSITION.