TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wants to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by the year 2035. The bad news is most Americans don’t want to buy an electric vehicle. The other bad news is car dealers in New Jersey will probably become a thing of the past as New Jerseyans flock to nearby states to buy their old, reliable and affordable gasoline-powered vehicles.
According to the Pew Research Center, despite state and federal efforts to boost electric vehicle (EV) adoption, new data indicates that half of U.S. adults are unlikely to consider purchasing an EV, a 4% decline from May 2022.
The Biden administration has rolled out several initiatives to promote EV use, such as tax credits and emissions limitations on manufacturers. Concurrently, major car makers have ramped up EV production, leading to an increase in EVs’ share of new car sales to 8.5% over the past two years.
Yet, 13% of adults state they have no plans to buy a vehicle at all, dampening the market potential for EVs. Democrats, younger adults, and urban residents are most inclined to consider an EV purchase. Among the 9% of U.S. adults who already own a hybrid or electric vehicle, 68% are likely to consider an EV for their next vehicle.
Primary motivations among potential EV buyers include environmental benefits (72%) and fuel savings (70%), while only a small percentage (12%) cite keeping up with automotive trends as a significant factor.