Poll suggests high gas prices could push shoppers towards EVs

• A new poll finds one-third of potential U.S. car buyers would consider an electric vehicle.
• Hybrid vehicles are an even more popular option, with 44% of Americans saying they would consider one.
• Younger Americans, Democrats, and urban residents are the most likely groups to consider purchasing an EV.

One-third of potential U.S. car buyers said they would consider purchasing an electric car amid rising gas prices, according to a new poll released April 3.

The poll, released by the Pew Research Center, found that an even higher number of Americans, 44%, said they would consider buying a hybrid vehicle. Still, more than half of poll respondents, 53%, said they would not consider purchasing an EV. Another 15% said they would not considering buying a new car right now at all. The group said the survey was conducted March 16-22, a few weeks into the Iran War.

The poll results come as the largest lobbying group for carmakers in Washington, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a blog post that online searches for EVs are up 20% since the Iran war began. The Auto Alliance, which lobbies for most major automakers such as Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Honda and Toyota, also said hybrids were 19% of sales in January.

The findings also come as the national average gas price rose to $4.09 per gallon on April 3, according to the AAA Auto Club. That figure is up from a national average of $3.10 one month ago on March 3.

Which types of Americans are most likely to consider EVs?

The Pew Research Center's poll found that 32% of all Americans said they would at least somewhat consider buying an EV the next time they are in the market for a new car.

The group broke down the positive responses to the question by the following categories:

• Ages 18-29: 43%
• Ages 30-49: 34%
• Ages 50-64: 27%
• Ages 65 and up: 23%
• Republican or Lean Republican: 17%
• Democrat or Lean Democrat: 47%
• Urban: 38%
• Suburban: 35%
• Rural: 20%
• Current EV owner: 61%
• Current hybrid car owner: 48%
• Current gas car owner: 26%

What Americans are most likely to consider a hybrid car?

The Pew Research Center's poll found that 44% of all Americans said they would at least somewhat consider buying a hybrid car the next time they are in the market for a new vehicle.

The group broke down the positive responses to the question by the following categories:

• Ages 18-29: 51%
• Ages 30-49: 46%
• Ages 50-64: 41%
• Ages 65 and up: 35%
• Republican or Lean Republican: 34%
• Democrat or Lean Democrat: 54%
• Urban: 52%
• Suburban: 46%
• Rural: 30%
• Current EV owner: 67%
• Current hybrid car owner: 76%
• Current gas car owner: 37%