- Support for the federal EV tax credit hovers around 50%
- Nearly 80% of EV owners express willingness to purchase another EV even without incentives
- Three out of five Americans advocate for state and local EV incentives if the federal credit is eliminated
Despite anticipated actions by the Trump Administration to target electric vehicle purchase incentives, a recent poll conducted by Veloz, a California-based EV advocacy group, reveals the popularity of such incentives among car buyers.
The poll, carried out by Probolsky Research for Veloz, found that 67% of respondents believe the government should offer EV incentives. However, this number decreases to 50% when specifically referring to the federal government.
Furthermore, 61% of respondents expressed a desire for state and local governments to step up and “enhance their support and investment in electric vehicles” if federal incentives are discontinued. California has already committed to this course of action should the $7,500 federal EV tax credit be eliminated by the Trump Administration.
U.S. consumer interest in EVs (from 2024 Veloz poll)
If state and local governments fail to provide this support, the poll suggests that EV sales momentum may not be completely stifled. The majority of current EV owners (78.2%) stated that they would still opt for an EV even without incentives that lower the vehicle’s purchase price, as did 38.1% of non-EV owners.
These findings are based on a sample of adult residents from various states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, and Maryland. Veloz and Probolsky Research assert that this sample accurately reflects the demographic characteristics of each state.
Michigan exhibited one of the lowest rates of non-EV owners who would consider purchasing one. A recent post-election report suggested that a high-level pro-Trump disinformation campaign, left unaddressed by Democratic candidate Harris, may have significantly influenced public opinion, potentially extending beyond the election.
2025 Kia Niro EV
The poll highlights that the primary deterrent to EV adoption, as with many previous studies, is the cost. Nearly half (48.4%) of respondents identified the cost of purchasing an EV as their main concern, followed by charging and maintenance costs (38.7%) and worries about battery longevity (38.3%).
However, cost savings emerged as the primary motivation for considering an EV. Both EV owners (51.9%) and non-owners (60.3%) cited saving money on fuel as their main reason, followed by the desire to improve air quality.
It appears that cost considerations influence decisions on both ends, with potential buyers possibly apprehensive that fuel savings might be negated by high purchase and charging expenses. Incentives could play a vital role in addressing these concerns.