Electric vehicles have become better over the years, picking up more range and faster charging features, but American car buyers remain skeptical. A recent study from AAA found that just 16 percent of U.S. adults were “likely” or “very likely” to purchase an EV for their next vehicle, while the percentage of people who said they were unlikely to buy one was much higher.
AAA’s data showed the number of adults who were “unlikely” or “very unlikely” to purchase an EV climbed from 51 percent in 2022 to 63 percent in 2024 and 2025. Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering, said, “Since we began tracking interest in fully electric vehicles, we’ve seen some variability. While the automotive industry is committed to long-term electrification and providing a diverse range of models, underlying consumer hesitation remains.”
Prospective buyers in the survey told AAA that the high purchase price and potentially expensive battery repair and replacement costs of EVs were significant concerns. Challenges with charging and long-distance travel, a lack of public charging stations, and range anxiety were other key barriers.
On the other hand, people who were excited about EVs cited high gas prices as the top motivating factor, with concerns for the environment and lower regular maintenance costs close behind. Despite that enthusiasm, the number of skeptics remains high, making the future of the EV market in the U.S. uncertain.
AAA noted that fewer people see an all-electric future than in previous years, and fewer are interested in tax credits and other incentives. If people are this bored with those benefits, they will likely become even more uninterested if and when the federal government kills the incentives.
[Images: Hyundai, Ford, Tesla]
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