Electric Automobiles: More Drivers Want Them

Electric cars have traditionally not been a popular option as a result of consumer concern about their reliability and consumer concern about how far electric vehicles can travel. Of course, reliability is never guaranteed for any new vehicle, which is why consumers should know their rights if their cars have defects and should turn to a California lemon law lawyer for help if they experience problems.

Despite the fact that demand has historically been low for electric cars, things may be changing. In fact, Consumer Reports indicates that a growing number of Americans have expressed an interest in purchasing an electric car.

More Americans are Interested in Electric Vehicles

According to Consumer Reports, a recent AAA survey revealed that around 20 percent of Americans are likely to buy an electric car in the future. Although this may not seem like a lot, it reflects a higher number of Americans expressing an interest in electric vehicles than in any prior survey in which AAA has asked the same question. Further, it is a significant increase from 2017, when just 15 percent of Americans responding to AAA said they intended to buy an electric vehicle.

There are many reasons that more Americans than ever are expressing interest in electric cars. One of those reasons is simply that there are far more electric vehicles on the market so consumers have many more options. There is a Tesla Model 3, a Nissan Leaf, a Chevy Bolt, a Tesla Model X, and a number of new hybrid vehicles that work off of electric.

Sales numbers also show that demand for electric vehicles is rising. Between 2016 and 2017, there was a 25 percent increase in sales of electric cars. While electric vehicles still account for just .05 percent of new car sales, this is a big jump up in the number of new car buyers who chose electric.

Many consumers are interested in buying an electric vehicle in order to do their part for the environment. In fact, 80 percent of consumers who said they plan to buy an electric car indicated that the environment was their primary motivating factor.

Cost-savings was also a consideration, with around 2/3 of consumers who said they'd buy an electric car indicating that long-term savings on fuel expenditures were a factor in their decision.  Some consumers also indicated that the electric cars on the market today earn high rankings for reliability, so they were interested in buying the vehicles because they thought the cars would hold up well over time.

Electric vehicles are less complicated than cars with internal combustion engines, so Consumer Reports' director of auto testing indicates that this focus on reliability may not be misplaced.  Further, electric cars get high marks on Consumer Reports reliability ratings.

However, with any car – electric or otherwise – things could still go wrong. If you purchase a new vehicle and have problems with the car that you bought, you should contact a California car lemon law lawyer for help understanding your rights and taking action to pursue appropriate remedies.