Drivers are clearly favoring gasoline-powered vehicles over electric ones despite President Joe Biden’s relentless push for a green revolution on America’s highways.
According to a recent report from ISeeCars.com, gas-powered cars are driven significantly more than electric vehicles (EVs)—20 percent more, to be precise. This comes at a time when Biden is pushing for a grandiose national network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, an aspect of his aggressive “climate agenda.”
The details are telling. The report shows that 3-year-old gasoline cars travel an average of 12,813 miles yearly, while EVs lag behind at just 10,256 miles. Even plug-in hybrids, which partially rely on electric power, cover 12,199 miles, only slightly less than their gas counterparts. The primary hurdles for EV adoption—range anxiety and inadequate charging infrastructure—play significant roles in these statistics. Karl Brauer, an executive analyst at iSeeCars, points out these critical issues that keep EVs less utilized.
In a market reality check, Mercedes-Benz has recently decided to step back from a full transition to EVs by 2030 due to lackluster sales figures. They are not alone in recognizing the tepid consumer demand. Earlier this year, Ford Motor Company opted to reduce production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck drastically, reflecting the broader consumer disinterest in electric-only vehicles.
Notably, while Teslas remain the most favored among EV options, the financial implications are hard to ignore. The average cost related to owning and driving an electric car for 1,000 miles per year is $5,108, starkly higher compared to $3,123 for a gasoline car.
Public sentiment appears to reinforce this skepticism. A poll from January found that 65% of Americans are unlikely to consider an EV purchase. The experience of being stranded in severe winter weather—a scenario where EVs performed poorly—has left a lasting impression. Further exacerbating concerns, a Consumer Reports survey indicates that EVs encounter almost 80 percent more problems than traditional gas-powered cars.
The push for electric vehicles seems to be running counter to the preferences and practicalities valued by everyday Americans. Despite top-down pressures from the federal government, the verdict from the roads indicates a clear preference for the reliability and freedom that gasoline-powered vehicles offer.
