Only 34 per cent of consumers in the United States intend to buy an electric vehicle as their next car in 2024, according to EY’s latest Mobility Consumer Index (MCI).
The data, despite record U.S. consumer interest in EVs in 2023, highlights a 14 point decrease since the 2023 MCI findings. In a news release, EY said the information shows that EV education is not where it needs to be and that barriers to mass adoption remain.
“While we’ve seen substantial increases in interest and purchasing of EVs since 2020, this year’s MCI shows dips in demand for the first time,” said Steve Patton, EY Americas Automotive Leader, in a statement. “This decrease is due partly to a lack of consumer education around the long-term value of an EV and maintenance requirements vs. traditional ICE … vehicles.”
EY said consumer confidence in both EV range and charging infrastructure has gone up, thanks in part to cross-sector collaboration and investments — both in education and charging stations.
However, the 2023 report found that 30 per cent of U.S. buyers were concerned about limited range. This year that figure slipped to 24 per cent, and lack of charging declined 11 percentage points between 2022 and 2024 report findings. However, that’s all been overshadowed by concerns over battery life and expensive replacement, and maintenance fees.
“To keep momentum and make EV ownership appealing, it’s imperative to educate and create a seamless customer experience from the dealership to the charge point, throughout the ecosystem and lifecycle of an EV,” said said Marc Coltelli, EY Americas Power & Utilities eMobility Leader, in a statement.
