Electric Cars Gain Popularity As Fuel Costs Rise
Higher gas prices are incentivizing people around the world to buy an electric vehicle, a new survey from Oliver Wyman shows. More than half (58%) of consumers said that high gas prices would motivate them to buy an EV, with “very high” gas prices pushing that number to 73%.
Chinese car buyers were most likely to say they would buy an electric vehicle, with 90% saying that gas prices over 10 yuan per liter ($6 per gallon) would make them consider an EV. Government benefits in China also help support higher consumer interest, including subsidizing the purchases of EV buyers with longer driving ranges and allowing electric cars on restricted roads during rush hour.
Brazilians were second-most likely to consider buying an EV, with 88% saying that gas prices over 8 real per liter ($1.56 per gallon) would incentivize them to switch. U.K. consumers were the least likely to buy an electric car; a potential result of the government ending its subsidies for new EV sales and expanding the U.K.’s charging station network instead.
Apart from gas prices, free vehicle charging was the top incentive for buying an EV, with 59% of consumers saying it would motivate them to make a purchase. Discounts for EV purchases (43%) and free parking stations (31%) were also motivators.