Millennials Just as Distrusting of EVs as Older Drivers

Sebastien Bell
by Sebastien Bell

Seventy percent of Millennials say that they do not want to buy an electric car over a traditional car, according to a survey of 157,000 respondents taken by driving-tests.org.

“We used the word ‘striking,’” Andrei Zakhareuski, CEO of driving-test.org, told Forbes. “It was also striking for its uniformity across all age groups. Any thoughts that Millennials would be more favorably disposed toward electric cars than seniors were not supported by the evidence.”

Driving-tests.org provides free practice tests for people looking to get their license. As a result, it appeals disproportionally to younger people. Even among 6 to 12-year-olds, though, roughly 70 percent of respondents said that they did not want to buy an electric car.

One reason for this preference might be that current electric vehicles don’t quite cut the mustard yet. D ata from the Consumer Federation of America shows that 57 percent of people would buy an electric vehicle if it cost the same to buy and operate as an internal combustion car, if it had a 200-mile range, and could be charged in less than an hour.

So far, only Tesla and the Chevrolet Bolt come close to satisfying all those demands, and even then, it’s a bit of a stretch given their lofty prices. When it arrives, however, the Tesla Model 3 should satisfy all of those demands.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, is determined to make EV models affordable with its range of I.D. concepts. Set to hit dealer lots in 2020, VW has said that it will cut down EV costs by using one dedicated platform to underpin everything from an electric compact car to an electric SUV.

Self-driving cars, meanwhile, also appear to be unpopular. Most respondents answered that they would be concerned about riding in an autonomous car. That said, a large proportion of respondents answered that they would not be concerned at all about riding in a self-driving car, so the subject is a divisive one.

Ultimately, the survey demonstrates that despite bullish predictions from automakers about the future of electric and autonomous cars, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about them among American drivers.

[source: Forbes]

This article first appeared on VW Vortex

Sebastien Bell
Sebastien Bell

Sebastien is a roving reporter who covers Euros, domestics, and all things enthusiast. He has been writing about the automotive industry for four years and obsessed with it his whole life. He studied English at the Wilfrid Laurier University. Sebastien also edits for AutoGuide's sister sites VW Vortex, Fourtitude, Swedespeed, GM Inside News, All Ford Mustangs, and more.

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