Majority of Americans will pay more for electric vehicles made in US, survey finds

Individuals proceed to be open to buying electrical automobiles, however are deterred by value, vary, charging capability, and an absence of charging stations, in keeping with a brand new survey from the Vitality Coverage Institute on the College of Chicago (EPIC) and The Related Press-NORC Middle for Public Affairs Analysis.

Moreover, when given the choice, most Individuals report they’d buy a costlier American-made automobile over a less expensive one made in China.

Just like 2023, about 6 in 10 Individuals cite saving cash on fuel and automobile upkeep as causes to buy an electrical automobile, together with lowering their private affect on local weather change. Most Individuals throughout the political spectrum view local weather change and energy policies as essential points within the 2024 election.

“Climate issues have topped the agenda for Democrats for a number of years, but this poll suggests generational change may increase the salience among Republicans as well,” mentioned Jennifer Benz, deputy director of the AP-NORC Middle. “Compared to older Republicans, the younger generation of the party is more likely to believe climate change is happening, that human factors are causing it, and to prioritize a clean energy industry in the U.S.”

Flipping the electrical change

Researchers discovered that lowering private affect on local weather change is a cause for buying an electrical automobile for 66% of adults. Monetary issues similar to saving cash on fuel, saving cash on automobile upkeep, or receiving a tax break are additionally high components.

The survey additionally discovered that teams extra prone to already personal an electrical automobile—similar to youthful and wealthier Individuals, in addition to those that say local weather change is occurring—are additionally extra prone to contemplate buying an electrical automobile sooner or later.

Nevertheless, value and considerations about vary and cost time high the record of causes Individuals wouldn’t buy one. Regardless of current investments in electrical automobile charging stations, two-thirds of Individuals report they do not know of charging stations close by, no matter the place they reside.

Attitudes round local weather change

Just like previous years, nearly all of Individuals imagine that local weather change is occurring, and that it is brought on largely or fully by human exercise. There continues to be a partisan divide, with 93% of Democrats believing that local weather change is occurring in comparison with the 62% of Republicans. Amongst those that do say it is occurring, 67% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans say that it is brought on largely or fully by people. Adults who’ve skilled extreme weather of their communities prior to now yr are additionally extra prone to imagine in local weather change.

In terms of particular local weather and power insurance policies, greater than half of Individuals assist laws to restrict emissions from power plants and automobiles, and funding to states to assist communities adapt. Democrats overwhelmingly assist these insurance policies, whereas nearly all of Republicans—and to a lesser extent independents—do not.

Solely 43% of Individuals discover it essential for the subsequent president to guard and broaden U.S fossil gas growth, whereas about 6 in 10 say they’d assist the constructing of wind generators and photo voltaic farms of their communities.

Whereas most Individuals are unwilling to pay a month-to-month carbon charge on their power use, greater than half say they’d assist a tax that firms would pay on the carbon they emit—together with about three-quarters of Democrats, half of independents and 40% of Republicans.

This angle is mirrored in who Individuals imagine ought to bear the accountability for local weather change. Simply 41% say people have loads of accountability, whereas companies (62%) and the federal authorities (59%) bear the best accountability.

Eighty-four % of Democrats rank local weather change coverage as an essential issue of their vote within the 2024 presidential election, in contrast with 43% of Republicans. In terms of energy policymajorities of each events say it is a vital issue of their vote.