The EV Era Has Begun in America, a Recent Consumer Reports Study Says

In 2020, Tesla had record-breaking numbers in car production, delivering half a million vehicles to customers despite challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. This eager response shows that the American car-buying population is more than ready to embrace electric vehicles.

A recent report published by Consumer Reports supported this claim, saying buyers in the United States are ready to welcome the so-called “Age of Tesla” and other electric cars.

Data from a national survey conducted by the nonprofit organization showed that the public perception of EVs is beginning to break into the mainstream. Based on the survey, only 30% of respondents aren’t familiar with electric cars, while 71% of drivers in the US said they would consider getting an electric car in the future.

One-third of those surveyed expressed interest in purchasing an electric car as their next vehicle, while more than 70% agreed that EVs would be better for the environment and that automakers should offer more vehicle types aside from cars, like plug-in electric pickups and SUVs.

The Consumer Reports survey concludes that customers in the US are becoming “more aware of electric cars.” However, it’s also important to note that these potential consumers are still concerned about the challenges that come with owning an electric vehicle, such as the availability of charging stations.

“American drivers are accustomed to having ready access to gas stations, and may not realize that if they have a personal garage or driveway, they’ll be doing most of their charging at home with an EV,” said Chris Harto, Consumer Reports’ senior sustainability policy analyst.

“Even though we have found that the typical driver would make as few as six stops at a public charging station every year, a more robust network of fast-charging stations would help alleviate buyers’ concerns about switching to an electric vehicle,” he added.

Tesla is recognized by many to be at the forefront of this evolving shift from traditional gas-powered cars to battery-powered vehicles. Aside from its popular EV models such as the Model 3 and Model Y, the automaker is also acknowledged for its Supercharger Network. This network was launched at a time when the brand only had one vehicle in production. It has since grown to become a convenient and reliable rapid charging system in the US.

As the company prepares to ramp up its rapid-charging system, it won’t be surprising if the brand starts offering it to other makes and models as well.

Teslas is the current market leader in EV production thanks to its advanced battery and software technologies. But other brands such as Rivian, Lucid Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are also starting to catch up.