A new study has shown that while many people are interested in owning an electric vehicle, only a handful have made the switch. Nowadays, there are more electric models than one could find some years ago. Although the usual practice is to electrify an existing model, as seen in the case of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, some EVs have been built from scratch. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes to mind in that regard.

While EVs have always been advertised as a safer mobility means, manufacturers have found new use cases for recent models. For example, the F-150 Lightning is a truck that Ford claims can power homes whenever there's an outage. That makes it an alternate source of power, a feature that'll come in handy during rolling blackouts. In addition, EVs now come with advanced technology, meaning drivers can enjoy a unique experience with driver assistance and infotainment systems. Additionally, most EVs support over-the-air software updates, meaning that new versions of apps and other systems will always appear once available for download.

Related: How Tesla Software Updates Work & How Often They Roll Out Explained

Despite the variety of benefits offered by EVs, many people still have trouble committing to ownership. There's been a lot of buzz about EVs and how they're revolutionizing the automobile industry, but new research argues that few people have bought an electric model yet. CarGurus surveyed 3,008 auto consumers, and their responses were documented in the "2022 Customer Insight Report." Forbes reports that while 22 percent of the respondents said they considered buying an EV, only five percent had gone through with the decision. However, it's worth noting that the desire to own an EV is growing, though not much of the buzz has converted into purchases. Forty percent of those surveyed revealed they wanted to own an electric car in the next five years. Meanwhile, 60 percent said they'd make the move in the next ten years. Compared to last year's findings (30 percent and 52 percent), it's considered a massive improvement.

Factors Behind Consumers' Reluctance To Buy An EV

2 GMC Hummer EVs

According to the report, EV driving range, availability of charging stations and charging speed are the main reasons gasoline vehicle drivers haven't switched yet. Currently, the electric range for most models ranges between 250 and 350 miles. Cars with a more extended electric range often cost more, reducing the number of people who can afford them. However, automakers have begun revising their battery development plan to make EV batteries more efficient. For instance, General Motors' Ultium battery technology is engineered to boost range without sacrificing performance.

The country's charging infrastructure is still in its formative years. Electrify America offers DC fast charging, which adds many miles within minutes. However, its network is still growing. Fortunately, the U.S. government has pledged to support the expansion of public charging stations. By doing this, it believes EV adoption will increase. If people see more stations near them, they may be more inclined to go electric.

Next: Three Reasons Why Americans Don't Want To Buy An EV

Source: Forbes