The weighted results show that only 1% indicate they will return to a petrol or diesel car, and 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car tomorrow.
“These results confirm that EV drivers are highly satisfied with their choice, and that reports of declining EV popularity are greatly exaggerated,” says Petter Haugneland, Assistant Secretary General of The Norwegian EV Association.
It’s not all about climate
Results show that lower operating costs are the most important motivation for buying an EV.
“This should serve as an eye-opener for policymakers worldwide. While a vibrant electric vehicle market is crucial for reducing climate emissions from road transport, achieving this goal hinges on making EVs an even more affordable option for all,” says Ellen Hiep, board member of the Dutch Electric Vehicle Drivers Association.
The environmental benefits of EVs emerged as the second most important motivation.
Charging infrastructure needs to continue to improve
Charging infrastructure is quite good in most countries and continues to expand on a steady pace. However, some EV drivers still find charging to be a hassle.
When being asked about the disadvantages of driving an EV, the results indicate that the most significant drawbacks are the limited availability of fast chargers, the time-consuming nature of charging, and the frequent downtime of fast charging stations.
“This demonstrates that EV drivers are similar to consumers in general – they desire convenience and a hassle-free experience. Even though the majority of EV drivers charge at home most of the time, developing consumer-friendly charging solutions is crucial for the growth of the EV mass market,” says Christian Peter, Director of EMC ElektroMobilitätsClub of Austria.
Response from over 23,000 EV drivers
The Global EV Driver Survey includes over 23,000 results from 18 countries and is the first and most comprehensive global survey among EV drivers. This marks the first time in history that GEVA has utilized its global network of EV Driver Associations to conduct a survey.
GEVA is convinced that the insights gained from the survey are vital:
“EV drivers are at the heart of this ongoing EV revolution. To succeed and increase EV adoption worldwide, in-depth knowledge about EV drivers is vital,” says Silvia Rojas, Executive Director, Costa Rican Association of Electric Mobility, ASOMOVE.
Source: “First ever Global EV Survey results announced 92 % of EV drivers will never go back,” Dec. 10, 2024 Global EV Drivers Alliance press release.
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