A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll shows 46% of US adults prefer petrol-powered vehicles. This compares with:
• 22% of US adults who want a traditional hybrid
• 19% who favor EVs
• 13% who prefer plug-in hybrids
Still, adoption is growing. The Post reported that 5% of all new cars sold in the fourth quarter of last year were fully electric. This year, all-electric vehicles comprise 7% of new car sales.
The sales numbers are significant because of the S curve – graphing that shows sales will soar once a certain level is reached. The theory: It’s extremely difficult to get that first 5%, but then sales grow exponentially and reaching 25% and 50% will happen much more quickly.
“Early adopters who love shiny new technologies will be replaced by mainstream consumers just looking for a good deal,” the Post reported.
Overall, the poll shows that adoption is increasing – yet some drivers will be hard to convert.
“But even as the nation’s EV market appears to be teetering on the edge of an electric takeover, a hesitant American public — and a still-subpar charging infrastructure — could still hold the country back,” the Post stated.
