Almost 40% of new electric car owners are thinking about changing them

A survey carried out in the United States revealed the dissatisfaction of some drivers with electric cars. The main complaints are regarding the quality and cost of the cars, and the scarcity of public chargers is the complaint that worsens the experience the most.

Dissatisfaction is greater among new owners. According to the survey, 48% of those who bought an electric vehicle for the first time are considering exchanging it for a hybrid model in the future, and 39% say they are willing to opt for a hybrid or even return to a combustion-powered car.

Among consumers who already owned electric cars – more accustomed, therefore – 38% responded that they would be willing to switch to a hybrid and 19% were considering switching to a hybrid or combustion engine.

Another highlight of the study is that, according to drivers’ reports, the most popular electric cars have fewer problems than the so-called “premium” ones.

The survey was carried out by data analysis and consumer intelligence company JD Power in partnership with the PlugShare application, which locates charging stations for electric cars for drivers. The survey was conducted from August to December with 4,650 owners of 2023 and 2024 model electric cars.

Brent Gruber, executive director for electric cars at JD Power, explained, in a note released by the company, that public demand is growing at the pace of electrification, and the market must be aware of this.

“The increase in the new vehicle market, reflected by the number of new models, is a notable step in the transition to electrification. But at the same time, the decline in satisfaction with the availability of public charging should serve as a warning, because concern about access to public charging is one of the main reasons many buyers currently reject electric cars,” says Gruber.