Electric car sales are booming, but they’re still falling short of automakers’ expectations. Some potential buyers remain skeptical about EVs’ performance, while others are deterred by their relatively high upfront cost. Those with the highest interest in the vehicles tend to be richer, younger, and live in areas where charging infrastructure is well-established.
That may be changing as more automakers offer a wider range of models, some at a lower price point than traditional cars. New technology is also reducing a battery’s time to recharge, from hours to minutes. And, a recent survey found that a growing number of Americans think electric vehicles are more fun to drive than traditional gasoline-powered models.
As a result, Electric car sales in my city are booming and are expected to reach 10 million this year, a 60% increase from 2021. They’re already the majority of new cars sold in many countries.
The growth is being driven by the desire to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, as well as by government incentives and environmental concerns. In the United States, a national policy of putting a million EVs on the roads by 2023 is helping to spur demand. EVs are also becoming cheaper to own than gas-powered cars when the purchase and operating costs are compared.
EVs can save consumers money at the pump, and can help them meet financial goals such as saving for a down payment or building up savings. They can also get preferential treatment at some places, such as preferred parking or use of HOV (high-occupancy vehicle, or carpool) lanes.
A recent analysis of the cost of EVs found that most of them still have higher prices than comparable gas-powered models, but that gap is closing rapidly. And, with federal tax credits of up to $7,500 available and the possibility of state or local rebates, it’s possible that a wide variety of buyers will find an EV is an affordable option.
As for where the EVs are being sold, the most concentrated numbers are in affluent cities and suburbs, such as Scarsdale and Stamford, in New York, and Greenwich and Westport, in Connecticut. But the vehicles are spreading to middle-class areas, including Newark and Jersey City.
New York is one of the largest markets for EVs, with some 27,000 of them on the road. But the City is working to ensure that its EV chargers are distributed equitably throughout all five boroughs, and not just in wealthier neighborhoods. At a public hearing last June, Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) to focus their investments on delivering charging stations to communities that haven’t been served by the private sector. The departments agreed to do so. They’ll make their plan public later this year. In the meantime, residents can learn more about their options by visiting EV NYC’s website. The city is also developing a map of public charging stations.