Article Summary
A CDK Global study of 1,334 U.S. car shoppers shows electric vehicle purchase intent has plummeted among non-EV buyers, with only 11 percent of gas shoppers now planning to buy an EV compared to 31 percent a year ago, though existing EV owners remain highly loyal to the technology.
- EV purchase intent among gas shoppers fell from 31% to just 11%, while hybrid shoppers' intent dropped from 54% to 35%
- Nearly 23% of gas buyers say they won't consider an EV for at least 10 years, citing reliability concerns and lifestyle incompatibility
- 82% of current EV owners plan to buy another electric vehicle, showing strong loyalty despite broader market pullback
- Only 24% of gas shoppers have test-driven an EV, compared to 41% last year, yet 78% of all buyers say test drives were decisive
- Range expectations among skeptics have climbed to 450+ miles, far exceeding the 250-300 miles most current EV owners consider sufficient
Toronto, Ontario -- Gas and hybrid car shoppers are less likely to consider an electric vehicle than they were a year ago, even as existing EV owners show stronger loyalty to the technology, according to a new study from CDK Global.
The annual survey of 1,334 U.S. car shoppers finds intent to buy an EV has fallen sharply among non-EV buyers. Only 11 percent of gas shoppers say they expect to purchase an electric vehicle in the future, down from 31 percent in 2024. Among hybrid shoppers, intent falls to 35 percent from 54 percent.
The pullback follows a year of heightened political debate, regulatory uncertainty and negative coverage around electrification, as federal incentives for new and used EVs are set to expire in 2025. Electric vehicles accounted for just under 10 percent of the U.S. market in 2024 and are projected to lose momentum as incentives wind down.
Among gas shoppers who still express interest, resistance is hardening. Nearly 23 percent say they would not consider buying an EV for at least 10 years. The share who say EVs do not suit their lifestyle rises to 28 percent, making it the second most cited reason for avoiding the technology after concerns about reliability. Distrust of EV technology also increases year over year.
Range expectations continue to climb. Nearly 31 percent of gas shoppers say they would require at least 450 miles of range to consider an EV, up sharply from the previous year. By contrast, a majority of current EV owners say 250 to 300 miles is sufficient, broadly in line with most new EVs on the market.
While mass-market interest softens, loyalty among existing EV owners strengthens. More than 52 percent already own an EV and are adding another rather than replacing their current vehicle, up from 37 percent a year earlier. Eighty-two percent of current EV owners say they would buy another electric vehicle.
Test drives remain a critical divider. Nearly all EV buyers have driven an electric vehicle, while the share of gas shoppers who have done so drops to 24 percent from 41 percent. Across all buyer types, 78 percent say a test drive alone convinced them to purchase their vehicle.
Social influence further widens the gap. About 88 percent of EV buyers say friends or family influenced their purchase decision, while gas shoppers show sharply reduced willingness to consider an EV based on recommendations from their personal networks.
Despite concerns about depreciation, insurance and purchase price, 92 percent of EV buyers believe they will save money over time, largely due to home charging. However, fewer homeowners plan to install home chargers than last year, and uncertainty around where and how to charge increasingly replaces traditional range anxiety among non-owners.
The study concludes the EV market is undergoing a correction rather than a reversal. While adoption among new buyers has stalled, committed EV owners continue to purchase, drive longer distances and show strong repeat-buying intent, suggesting electrification remains a long-term transition rather than a fading trend.
