Since Zpryme’s last electric vehicle (EV) consumer survey, U.S. consumer demand edged up slightly in March of 2013, as 5.1% of U.S. adults said they were ‘very likely’ to purchase an EV over the next 12 months (vs. 3.7% in February of 2013).
The small increase in potential demand for EVs may have received a bump from President Obama’s $2 billion Energy Security Trust program, which is designed to increase funding and research for alternative fuel vehicles.
Zpryme’s Smart Grid Insights collected data via the internet from 1,010 U.S. adults during March of 2013. This is the second consecutive month the data have been tracked. Respondents were asked about their intent to buy/lease a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle over the next 12 months. The data were weighted by age, gender, and geographical region to reflect the national population of the U.S. Different groupings of respondents (gender, age range, and geographical region) were inspected for differences about their intent to buy/lease a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle.
Key Findings
Five point one percent said they were ‘very likely’ to purchase or lease an all (EV) or hybrid plug-in elective vehicle (PHEV) over the next 12 months. This is slightly higher than last month’s figure of (3.7%), but is within the margin of error.
Those 18 – 24 years old were most likely to indicate that they were going to buy/lease an EV. Compared to last month, this figure increased by three point four percentage points (16.9% vs. 13.5%).
More males (5.1%) than females (5.0%) said they were ‘very likely’ to buy/lease and EV. Compared to last month, this figure increased by half a percentage point among males and by two point two percentage points among females.
Electric Vehicles Trends
Fully 87.6% reported they were not likely to buy/lease such a vehicle, with 8.4% saying they were somewhat (3.3%) or very likely (5.1%) or already owned one (4.0%). The percentage of those somewhat or very likely to purchase an EV in March’s report (7.1%) is very close to those likely in April’s report (8.4%).
As seen in the March 2013 report, but with a more narrow difference, more males (4.2%) than females (3.8%) owned an EV. Males and females were more alike than different in all response choices.
Generally, older respondents were less likely to purchase an EV, with those 55-64 years old the least likely group (93.3%). Those most likely to purchase were the 18-24 year olds (16.9%).
Those most likely to purchase were in the west (9.4%), and least likely in the northeast (6.0%). Compared to last month, this figure fell slightly in the West and increased slightly in the Northeast.
