Less than 1% of EV owners would return to full gas-powered cars

[Travlcub]

After buying an EV, less than 1% of drivers go back to gas-powered cars

Peter Johnson| Dec 10 2024 - 2:54 pm PT

Once you go electric, you almost never go back to a gas-powered car. According to a new survey from the Global EV Alliance, over 90% of EV drivers plan to buy another electric vehicle after trading in a gas car. Meanwhile, only 1% said they would return to an ICE vehicle.

EV drivers rarely return to gas cars, a new study shows
The new Global EV Alliance study collected data from over 23,000 electric vehicle drivers across 18 different countries, including the US, Canada, France, India, Brazil, and more.

They found that EV drivers are overwhelmingly more likely to stick with an electric option rather than return to a gas-powered car.

According to the survey (via Bloomberg), 92% plan to buy another EV, while only 1% said they would return to a gas car. Another 4% of those surveyed said they would choose a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The biggest factor behind the decision is the lower operating costs (45%).

Other top reasons for sticking with an EV were that they are more climate-friendly (40%), better for the local environment (32%), have good driveability (21%), and have lower maintenance costs (18%).

2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

If you’ve driven an electric vehicle, then you know why. The nearly silent, smooth ride is impossible with even the most advanced gas cars. Then, factor in almost no operating and maintenance costs, and you can see why EV drivers rarely go back.

With automakers like Tesla offering deals like free three months of Supercharging, you can drive around without paying a penny in energy (which would otherwise add up with gas, oil, fluids, etc.).

Photo: Courtesy of Tesla Inc.

Several new lower-cost EVs are now arriving, making it even more attractive to buy one. Incentives, like the $7,500 US federal tax credit, are putting EV prices on par with their gas-powered counterparts. In many cases, they are even more affordable.

Electrek’s Take
With EV battery prices falling at their fastest rate this year since 2017, electric cars are poised to get even more affordable.

Electric vehicles are already technically superior to gas cars, but as new software, batteries, and other tech develops, they will become even smarter and more efficient.
Top comment by EV_Wisconsin
Liked by 25 people

I can't imagine going back. Getting into an ICE vehicle is like going back in time. Almost 100,000 EV-miles and counting - equivalent to driving around the equator ~ 4 times! Haven't bought gas for a personal vehicle in almost 18 months and don't miss it.​

According to leading EV research firm Rho Motion, global electric sales hit a new record in October, with over 1.7 million EVs sold. China continued dominating the market with 1.2 million EVs sold, up over 50% from October 2023.

Sales in the US and Canada are growing steadily (+9% YTD). With new EV models like the Honda Prologue taking the US by storm, demand is expected to continue rising.

Electric vehicles are expected to continue stealing market share from gas cars over the next few years as new lower-priced, more advanced electric SUVs, sedans, crossovers, entry-level cars, luxury models, and more hit the market.

If you drive an EV, what do you love about it? Would you change anything? Let us know in the comments below.

Full ICE I doubt but hybrid would be an option. Best of both worlds maybe?

 

[ChasingCoral]

Full ICE I doubt but hybrid would be an option. Best of both worlds maybe?

And worst of both worlds.

 

[AKgrampy]

You still have an ICE common hydraulic brake system that will need regular service. You may go a little longer between pad replacement, pending driving style, but that's about it.

Maybe more than a little longer! 100% of stopping is pads in an ICE. If you are a smooth driver almost zero with a BEV. Not something I care about myself but that is a fact.

 

[hypersnake]

Sounds like you want a lucid Gravity. Up to 450 mile range and faster charging.

450 miles? Your family has amazing bladder control.

let me also add somewhat affordable and not ugly.

My wife can do a lot of traveling in a day for work and often won't have a charging location at the destination point and also not have a lot of time in between meetings.

 

[dalola]

Maybe more than a little longer! 100% of stopping is pads in an ICE. If you are a smooth driver almost zero with a BEV. Not something I care about myself but that is a fact.

Not quite. There is a small percentage of engine breaking with ICE. And a smooth ICE driver can also extend pad life. In the world of averages, it's not going to be the big gap that you yourself may experience. And you still have the same fluid maintenance, because that is determined by time, not miles.

 

[Coffs]

I guess i'm in the 1% club then. I was seduced by the Mustang, spent a year with it but choosing between getting home freezing cold or being warm was the last straw. I didn't know anything about EVs going into it and hadn't read about the abysmal winter performance (loss of 35% range) which on an SR AWD hurts. So yeah, bye bye Mustang, hello 3.0T gasoline. Still enjoy these forums.

 

[4wheeldog]

Any chance there will ever be a manual EV, do you suppose?

I think you make funny. But a friend of mine is spiffing up an old Triumph Spitfire with plans to swap in an EV drivetrain. He was telling me he is considering keeping the manual transmission and hanging an E motor off the front of it. I am trying to convince him he should swap in two Leaf motors and axles, one at each end. 200 hp and AWD. We shall see.

 

[4wheeldog]

Internal combustion... for those who can't tell the difference between sound and speed.

Harley Davidson. Most efficient method converting gasoline into noise.

 

[Mach1E]

Sounds like you want a lucid Gravity. Up to 450 mile range and faster charging.

450 miles? Your family has amazing bladder control.

40 minute pee breaks? Your family takes way too long on the toilet.

 

[Mach1E]

And worst of both worlds.

Not really.

The worst things about ICE’s are the efficiency and environmental impact. PHEV fixes both.

Worst things about BEVs are range and refueling time. PHEV fixes both.

Sure, hybrids have “some” of the bad things about both. But definitely not the worst things. They’re a compromise for sure, but they get rid of the really bad stuff in exchange.

 

[4wheeldog]

40 minute pee breaks? Your family takes way too long on the toilet.

You may learn they like to eat more than once a day as well. Wasteful as it seems, I find it is best to humor your passengers.

 

[Mach1E]

You may learn they like to eat more than once a day as well. Wasteful as it seems, I find it is best to humor your passengers.

Sure, but the chances of food my family likes being within walking distance from a charger are slim.

When I drive long distances, the goal is to cover the most distance in the least time. Stopping for 40 min every 150 miles isn’t how that’s done.

Yeah, I gotta pee every 4 hours and eat every 6.

But 2 hours then a 40 min charging stop? Don’t pretend that’s just a normal road trip pit stop.

 

[Fat Mach]

While I love the convenience of a BEV for a daily driver and it’s a lot of fun to drive, I would certainly buy the car in my avatar if I hit it rich. I would also buy any number of Pontiacs if the right deal came along on a Ram Air II, IV, SD421, 400 Ram Air, 455 HO, or SD455 car. I’d even consider a Hurst/Olds or a Stage II Buick if the right deal came along. .

I approve of the list, even though I bleed Ford blue. My brother has a 69 GS Stage 1 factory 4-Speed Convertible. A friend has TWO Ram Air IV Judge 4-Speed Convertibles, to go along with his myriad of Hemi Cuda and Challenger 4-Speeds.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Not really.

The worst things about ICE’s are the efficiency and environmental impact. PHEV fixes both.

Worst things about BEVs are range and refueling time. PHEV fixes both.

Sure, hybrids have “some” of the bad things about both. But definitely not the worst things. They’re a compromise for sure, but they get rid of the really bad stuff in exchange.

You also have to maintain both.

 

[superdave80]

I hope you’re right, but I think larger batteries just compound the problem- more weight, more cost and….. the larger the battery the slower it charges.

I didn't mean more of the same battery, but more capacity through more advanced batteries (solid state). And larger batteries charge faster, not slower.

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