Plug In America’s annual survey reveals insights into EV driver habits and opinions 

In their 2020 electric vehicle (EV) consumer survey, conducted in September and October of last year, Plug In America questioned 3,500 EV owners and over 800 “intenders,” meaning individuals interested in purchasing an EV within 12 months. 

The findings were significant in that they revealed a high level of satisfaction with driving electric, and less satisfaction when it came to the EV dealership experience and public charging infrastructure. It also showed that a clear majority of respondents were motivated by environmental concerns over all other factors combined.

Survey results were as follows:

• 96% of EV drivers are likely to purchase an EV as their next vehicle

• 60% of all EV drivers and intenders listed Clean air/environment as the most important consideration in the decision to purchase an EV

• 40% of all EV drivers and intenders listed either cost savings, interest in cutting edge technology, energy independence, and fun of driving as the most important motivating factor

• EV drivers were more likely to cite performance/fun to drive or cutting edge technology as motivating factors than intenders, and slightly less likely to cite cost savings

• Over 75% of respondents expressed a preference for charging from renewable energy, lowering their carbon footprint even further

• Over 50% of EV drivers have experienced problems with public charging, although these issues were more prevalent for those using something other than the Tesla network

• The federal EV tax credit and inexpensive home charging were cited as significant economic considerations when deciding to purchase an EV

• Regarding the EV shopping experience, only 15% of drivers rated the EV knowledge of the salesperson as very high

• 85% of EV drivers were satisfied with their ability to find the information necessary to buy or lease an EV, particularly with EV-specific websites such as PlugStar.com, rated as the most valuable source of EV information

• Intenders find EV-specific websites to be the most valuable source of information on EVs, but are more likely to rely on friends and family than current owners

• Intenders tended to be younger, less likely to earn over $100,000 per year, and less likely to live in a single family home than EV drivers, even though 80% of intenders are single family home dwellers