Some 92% of electric vehicle drivers will ‘never go back’ to driving traditional combustion engine vehicles, a new study by the Global EV Drivers Alliance (GEVA) has claimed.
The study, which collected responses from more than 23,000 EV drivers across 18 countries – the largest study of its type to date – found that just 1% of EV owners would revert back to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid if they had to replace their car tomorrow.
Commenting on the 92% approval rate for EVs, Joel Levin, chair of the GEVA and director of Plug In America, commented, “This is a remarkably high number and the results confirm that drivers love the EV experience and EVs are here to stay.”
Operating costs and charging infrastructure
Lower operating costs are cited as the most important motivating factor for choosing an EV, while the environmental benefits of EVs was also cited by respondents. In terms of areas for improvement, charging infrastructure topped the list, with the limited availability of fast chargers, the time-consuming nature of charging, and the frequent downtime of fast charging stations all cited.
“This demonstrates that EV drivers are similar to consumers in general – they desire convenience and a hassle-free experience,” added Christian Peter, director of EMC ElektroMobilitätsClub of Austria. “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.”
Global study
The survey, which was conducted between August and November 2024, reached EV drivers through GEVA’s 64 member organisations. The results were weighted to reflect each country’s share of the global EV fleet.
“These results confirm that EV drivers are highly satisfied with their choice, and that reports of declining EV popularity are greatly exaggerated,” noted Petter Haugneland, assistant secretary general of The Norwegian EV Association. Read more here.
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