To conduct the relevant study, its authors - Scott Hardman and Gil Tal - surveyed more than 14,000 people who bought or leased electric vehicles in California from 2012 to 2018 about their next car. And, as it turned out, 20% of respondents eventually switched their electric car to a gasoline one. The scientists also found out the reasons why this happens.
The issue turned out to be the same problems that have always been inherent in electric cars - short range and difficulties (impracticality) with charging. And this is despite the fact that we are talking about California - a region with one of the largest charging infrastructures in the world. In addition, there are no harsh winters here, and therefore the electric car does not lose as much range in cold weather as, say, in the northern part of America. That is, it can be assumed that in other states with a more severe climate, the number of motorists who gave up electric cars is even higher.
The scientists emphasized that the basis of these 20% were owners of small households with only one car in the garage. In addition, compared to those Americans who plan to continue using electric vehicles, these were younger people with lower salaries, and more often women. This leads to the conclusion that electric vehicles still remain to some extent an exclusive - a toy for the rich or, at least, for people with above-average income.
