Survey highlights EV issues

More than four-in-10 owners of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US say they are likely buy a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) as their next purchase.

That’s one of the findings of a survey by global management consultancy McKinsey & Co that, among other issues, concludes charging concerns are hindering the switch.

Twenty-nine per cent of EV owners across the planet say they are likely to chuck a u-turn to ICEs, rising to 46 per cent in the US. 

Consumers globally say their top concern is the inadequacy of the public-charging infrastructure. They also cite concerns with high costs of ownership and detrimental impact to long-distance trips.

Such sentiments may go hand in hand with the slow rollout of a US-backed charging network. Only eight stations are operational following the creation of a national EV infrastructure programme two years ago.

Only 23 states have started to distribute funding from the US$5 billion federal programme, according to EVAdoption data up to the end of May.

The US is not alone. Only nine per cent of global respondents feel the public-charging rollout is sufficient for their needs. Among other findings, McKinsey found:

• Twenty-one per cent of global respondents do not want to ever switch to an EV. Among those, 33 per cent cite charging concerns.

• Charging concerns are exacerbated by range-related expectations. 

• Consumers are slightly more willing to consider electrified vehicles than they were two years ago. 

• Thirty-eight per cent of non-EV owners anticipate that a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric will be their next vehicle.