There is a theoretical, magic tipping point for adoption of electric vehicles. Once somewhere between 5 and 10% of new car sales are all-electric, some researchers say, huge numbers of drivers will follow. They predict then electric cars sales will soar – to 25%, 50%, and eventually to close to 80% of new sales. Early adopters who love shiny new technologies will be replaced by mainstream consumers just looking for a good deal. Last year, the United States finally passed that elusive mark – 5% of all new cars sold in the fourth quarter were fully electric. And earlier this year, all-electric vehicles made up about 7% of new car sales.
But even as the nation’s EV market appears to be teetering on the edge of an electric takeover, a hesitant American public – and a still-subpar charging infrastructure – could still hold the country back. A
Washington Post-University of Maryland poll shows the current limits of U.S. enthusiasm for the new vehicles, with nearly half of adults (46%) saying they prefer to own a gas-powered car or truck. That compares to 19% who want a full-electric vehicle, 13% who want a plug-in hybrid and 22% who want a traditional hybrid vehicle.
