Is the Adoption of Electric Vehicles in the US on Track?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for more than 100 years. While advertising and new models are ubiquitous in the US, the shift from decades of “Detroit Steel” and the combustion engine to their electric counterparts has been lower than in other countries.

According to Autoweek, EV share of the overall market in the US is 4.6% compared to the rest of the world, which reached 11% share in 2022. To the extreme, eight in 10 new vehicles sold in Norway are EVs. [1]

Even within the US, the rate of EV adoption as the primary vehicle differs by region. Consider a recent Big Village Caravan survey of licensed drivers. The rate of EVs, as a primary vehicle among New York and California drivers, is twice that of the rest of the country.

Vehicles Driven Most Often

There are several factors affecting the sales of EVs in the US that are currently being addressed. Most drivers, both EV and otherwise, cite factors affecting their pocketbooks as both barriers and motivators for owning an EV.

While the cost of EVs has decreased in recent years, they are still more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts.  In fact, 53% of non-EV owners say vehicle price is the reason for not jumping into the EV market.

Another concern about EV ownership has to do with charging and access to the EV charging infrastructure. While this is developing rapidly, vehicle range, finding charging stations, and charging times, factor into the decision to purchase an EV.

A third, and possible less-obvious factor as to why EV’s may not be considered, is simply the lack of knowledge about electric vehicles. Almost one in four drivers say they don’t know much about EVs themselves.

Barriers to EV Purchase

Fuel prices and bypassing the pumps are foremost on the minds of EV drivers. They are also motivated by the benefit their vehicles afford to the environment.

EV Purchase Motivators

Many factors are affecting the adoption of EVs in the US, including prices, infrastructure, supply chain, production capacity, and politics. Ultimately, it comes down to the consumer. With so many vehicle choices, EV growth rests on being best for the household budget, fit with drivers’ habits, and educating drivers about the benefits of EV ownership.