### Summary
The majority of Americans are not convinced by federal incentives to buy electric vehicles (EVs), and some are even discouraged by them, according to an exclusive survey. While President Joe Biden aims for two-thirds of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032 and plans to build a network of 500,000 chargers across the country, only 29% of respondents said incentives influenced their decision to buy an EV.
### Facts
- 🚗 Only 29% of Americans said government incentives had increased their consideration of purchasing an EV.
- 💰 Americans in higher income brackets are more likely to consider owning an EV than those earning less.
- 💸 The cost of EVs remains a barrier across all income brackets, as they are generally more expensive than gas-powered cars.
- 📉 EV sales growth in the US has started to slow, suggesting that high upfront costs are deterring consumers.
- ⚡ Americans have concerns about running out of charge and access to charging stations, particularly in low income areas where the charging infrastructure is lacking.
- 🚙 Two of the world's largest carmakers, Toyota and Stellantis, criticized the government's electric car push as overly optimistic and cited challenges such as the cost to consumers and gaps in the charging infrastructure.
- 📊 Seven major car manufacturers, including General Motors and Stellantis, have announced a plan to install 30,000 chargers to alleviate the shortage.
The European Commission has launched an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in order to protect Europe's own auto sector and maintain its competitive edge, while acknowledging that various governments, including the EU, also provide support for their domestic EV industries.
China responds to the EU's criticism of its subsidies for electric vehicles, suggesting that the EU's concerns are driven by fear of competition from Chinese EV companies and the inability of European manufacturers to compete.
Americans' hesitations to buy electric vehicles (EVs) are largely due to concerns around charging, with surveys showing that a lack of charging stations is a significant barrier to purchase, but efforts are being made to expand and improve the U.S. charging landscape through major incentives, partnerships, and the development of a single charging standard like Tesla's NACS plug design.
Despite electric vehicle (EV) sales hitting records in the U.S., concerns arise as EVs are selling slower than expected due to excess inventory and weaker demand in regions like Michigan and Ohio, which could be attributed to cold weather impacting EV range, requiring smarter marketing and incentives from manufacturers like Ford and GM to drive adoption.
Electric Drive Transportation Association President Genevieve Cullen believes that the future of electric vehicles (EVs) is promising, as three factors - technology, policy, and markets - are driving the adoption and expansion of EVs. Despite concerns from autoworker unions about potential job losses, the rise of EVs is unstoppable, with increasing sales and government support.
A new study reveals that premium electric vehicles have higher ownership costs compared to their gas counterparts, while mass-market EVs are 18% more expensive to own than equivalent gas cars, highlighting the challenge of achieving price parity in the EV industry. However, the study predicts that the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV could lead the movement towards parity in the mass market.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has proposed new rules that would allow car dealers to offer upfront discounts on electric vehicles (EVs) through tax credits at the point of sale, benefiting all eligible buyers and making EVs more affordable, especially for low- and middle-income drivers.
