This survey is relatively current and interesting:
Not in the headline, but 33.8% would want an EV, the rest have no preference. That’s a large increase for EV, but it’s one survey so…
Nonetheless, some additional points in the article:
Men were more likely than women to prefer electric vehicles.
Younger age groups (between 18 and 34) were more likely to prefer electric vehicles than any other generation.
When looking to purchase a new car, people were more willing to spend higher amounts on electric vehicles than they were traditional.
Women were generally motivated to spend less on cars than men.
Purchase price and battery life/replacement costs were the two main barriers to entry for an EV purchase.
Older generations, those 55 and older, were most likely to be dissuaded from purchasing an electric car based on a number of barriers to entry, such as battery life, driving range, and cost of charging.
We just bought a Bolt EUV. So far we love it. It’s especially great for around town or for these trips my husband takes to photograph birds that involve a lot of slow driving/idling. The price was right with all the various incentives. Right now we are just “trickle charging” it at night but there are also many incentives to get a level 2 charger installed and we have an appointment with an electrician later this month. It’s really fun to drive. We also have an ICE Tucson SUV. For a long trip I would prefer that comfort-wise and given that one of the Bolt drawbacks is slowish charging speed, but to go to the store? Bolt all the way.
If a plug-in hybrid had been available when we got our Tucson I would have been so happy with that. I like that idea the best really. But because of the low price after incentives (it will depend on how much of the tax credit we can use, but the overall price will end up being $20k to $25k) having one totally electric and one totally gas seems like it will work for us now.
As I discussed here, my daughter has an EV. I think it’s great and she loves it. It’s a great drive around town car.
But for her, I can start to see the downside. She may disagree.
Although she lives with her SO, they aren’t married. It’s none of my business and I’m not sure of the circumstances, but her SO is not comfortable with her driving his gasoline powered vehicle. She is ok with him driving her car but he is not. That’s their choice not mine.
But anytime my daughter wants to visit anyone without her SO, it’s either a situation where it can be done on one charge, she needs to find a charge or rent a car. She’s done all of those things.
But it does add complexity to the situation and another layer that I’m not sure about. Like I said, she’s definitely not asking me. But I certainly wouldn’t want an EV as my only option.
I’ve driven my Bolt for 5 years and my Leaf for 2 years before that. We almost always choose the EV when going on a road trip. Have never rented a car to do one. We live in NC and have driven to Florida in the Bolt and back. Have gone to Atlanta. Take frequent trips around the state. It’s just a different way of planning, but 9 times out of 10 I would choose to drive the Bolt for a road trip. We do have a Volt (hybrid plug in) also and occasionally take that if we have to do a really quick turnaround or are on a really tight schedule or something.
My DH was just run off the highway by some idiot who didn’t even stop and it is likely totaled (fortunately DH is ok). DH loved his 4 seater convertible (lexus) but it isnt made any more (the only one they make is 100K+ and that’s a hard no). So we are exploring a used car, either BMW 4 series convertible or a hybrid until what he really wants comes along. Will ask our regular mechanic his thoughts on that BMW. We much prefer japanese cars for reliability. I love my tesla and the new ones are currently discounted so as to possibly qualify for the federal rebate for the next few mos, but don’t want to have 2 all electric cars.
H and I went to the auto show here a couple of weeks ago and looked at the Chevy Bolt EV. We both thought it would be the perfect second car for running around town. It has a 250 mile range so we would also be able to visit my parents that live 100 miles from us. The price was very reasonable. We do not need a car right now, but it was good that we saw the Bolt and liked it. It would not work for our long winter road trips where we go skiing for several weeks and carry a lot of stuff, but we have the 4WD Tundra for those.
H is looking more and more likely to buy hybrid lexus, just like neighbors. Yesterday, he was researching a it’s trunk size. It takes H awhile to warm to the idea of making a purchase.
Really glad to hear he was ok. Idiots on the highway are some of the most dangerous people out there. Yesterday there was a fatal accident near us and the driver at fault (who didn’t die) drove away from the accident and caused another one.
I still wish Ford had enough F150 Lightnings available to go to the lot and get one. H could really use one for work, esp after we finally got rid of our 1997 F150 when it officially died.
You can trickle charge at your parents’ house, too, if needed.
We experimentally determined that driving our X at 80-90 mph (don’t ask! ) on a relatively flat I-90 stretch in 70 degrees or so weather diminished our range by about 15%. One positive thing about owning an EV is that it cured my Mr. from playing the game of “how many miles can I squeeze out of my empty gas tank.” He once got it so far that he had to turn the engine off and cruise on neutral coming down a mountain pass… do not recommend. Glad I was not there.
Actually, I have driven EVs on a flat road with cruise control set a 65mph and gotten approximately the EPA economy or slightly better.
However, heavy use of HVAC will consume significantly more electricity, as will aggressive driving (flooring the accelerator or brake) or higher highway speeds. So will having stuff on a roof rack, or not paying attention to tire air pressure in autumn and winter.
Was it an old car with non-power-assist brakes and steering (so the absence of power assist with the engine off would not be noticed)?
Of course, an EV showing 1 mile of range remaining at the top of a hill may safely get down to the bottom of the hill with more than 1 mile of range remaining, since the regenerative braking down the hill will put the energy into the battery.
In any case, EVs commonly count down to empty by the mile (or km), but some newer ICEVs also have similar distance-to-empty displays, so the driver does not have to guess based on the typically low-resolution fuel gauge needle.
My son’s Kia is very accurate with mileage he tells me, though allowing for 10-15% less in the cold as expected. Way earlier in the thread I said it was a Hyundai - my mistake as I found out this past holiday season!
Using the cabin heater is a common reason for worse EV economy and range in cold weather. If the EV has heated seats, using the heated seats more and the cabin heater less can be more economical.
We’ve had two Prius hybrids. First one was totalled in an accident. Second one is a 2017, now at 97k miles. We average 55 mpg, which includes the dropoff in the winter. Keep the speed under 70, and we run 60+.
Am not inclined to get an electric any time soon, though we have friends who have bought two Hyundai Ioniq EV and they love them.
Our Prius is our long-distance vehicle, and we’re not willing to hunt for charging stations on long trips with the current technology.
We also have a 2011 Outback. Not sure what we’ll get to replace that when the time comes. It has 112k and it’s our local and camping car (has a built-in roof rack). S2 was supposed to get it when he moved back from eastern Europe. Ha!
) on a relatively flat I-90 stretch in 70 degrees or so weather diminished our range by about 15%. 
Glad I was not there.
There was not a soul on that stretch of the road and no cell signal. He lived to tell the story. 