Full Charge Ahead: Why You Should Consider an Electric Vehicle for Your Next Car

Across the country there are more and more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road. According to a report by Atlas Public Policy, a privately held public policy group, 9% of all passenger vehicles were EVs in 2023. That’s up from 7.3% in 2022.

Thinking about walking away from the gas pump and trying your hand at a charging station? We asked AAA Members what they think about EVs and why they are or aren’t considering buying them. According to the survey conducted in March of 2023, 1 in 4 U.S. adults say they would be very likely or likely to buy an EV (powered exclusively by electricity) the next time they are in the market for a new or used vehicle.

These sentiment survey results were similar to those from a survey conducted by AAA in 2022. With numbers remaining steady, why are people still hesitant to make the leap to EVs. Members said that cost (59%), lack of charging stations (56%), cost to replace or repair the battery (55%), and anxiety about the range of a charge (53%) are the main reasons for not purchasing an EV.

Those hurdles could soon be a thing of the past. In 2023, prices of EVs actually dropped due to the Inflation Reduction Act, which increased tax credits for new and used EV purchases by $3,750 or $7,500 depending on battery capacity.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in the second quarter of 2023, there was a 4% increase in the number of EV charging ports. Seven major automakers have committed to building a large network of high-power charging stations by 2030 with at least 30,000 plugs in urban areas and along travel routes.

Several states have set target dates for when they expect new vehicles sales to be 100% zero-emission vehicles. Both California and Washington will require that all new vehicles sold in their states to be zero emissions by 2035. New Jersey has banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles beginning in 2035.

Millennials were more likely to say that they would buy a fully electric vehicle for their next car (31%), versus 21% of Generation X and 18% of baby boomers. The main reasons that members cited for considering the purchase of an EV were saving on gas (76%) and a concern for the environment (60%).

Trying to decide if an EV is for you? Be sure to check out AAA’s guide on electric vehicles. You’ll find all the information you need to make an educated decision, including EV ownership costs, information on driving ranges and a AAA Car Guide, which includes reviews of select EVs with the latest technology.