Are you there, electric vehicle makers? It’s me, an EV shopper.
Judging by the EVs on the market, EV makers aren’t there listening to what consumers want, according to auto comparison company Edmunds.
EV battery longevity worries, range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure are all known concerns, but there’s also a wide gap between what car shoppers want and what’s for sale, Edmunds’ 2024 EV consumer sentiment survey shows.
These factors together can make the uphill climb to mass EV purchases even steeper. Edmunds predicts the rate of EV growth will continue slowing through 2024, increasing to just 8% of new vehicle market share from 6.9% last year and 5.2% in 2022.
“The electric vehicle market is growing, but consumers have enough reservations about the options and charging infrastructure challenges to limit more significant growth in the short term,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insight.
What do EV shoppers want?
The top three things Edmunds says EV shoppers want include:
◾ Lower prices: Among those who intend to buy an EV, 47% want one for less than $40,000, and 22% are interested in EVs below $30,000.
Reality: Zero new EVs have an average manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) below $30,000, and there are only four below $40,000. In 2023, the average transaction price of an electric vehicle was $61,702, while all other vehicles stood at $47,450, Edmunds said.
◾ Cars and SUVs, not electric pickups: Among existing vehicle owners,…
