Most drivers happy with NEVs they bought, says global study

Electric vehicle drivers are satisfied with their choices despite reports of declining popularity, according to a global EV survey.

The Global EV Drivers Alliance recently released a survey about EV users. It showed that 92 percent of respondents intend to purchase another EV for their next vehicle, with only 1 percent considering a return to petrol or diesel cars, and 4 percent leaning toward plug-in hybrids for a replacement.

The survey covered more than 23,000 respondents from 18 countries, the first comprehensive global survey among EV drivers.

"This is a remarkably high number and the results confirm that drivers love the EV experience and EVs are here to stay," said Joel Levin, chairman of GEVA.

"These results confirm that EV drivers are highly satisfied with their choice, and that reports of declining EV popularity are greatly exaggerated," said Petter Haugneland, assistant secretary-general of the Norwegian EV Association.

About a year ago, reports surfaced regarding a decrease in demand for EVs. Automakers, such as General Motors and Ford, began cutbacks in production plans and postponed the launch of new EV models, prompting similar actions from other companies.

The GEVA results also showed that lower operating costs were the most important motivation for buying an EV. The environmental benefits of EVs emerged as the second most important motivation.

While a vibrant EV market is crucial for reducing climate emissions from road transport, achieving this goal hinges on making EVs an affordable option for all, the alliance said.

When asked about the disadvantages of driving an EV, the results indicated that the most significant drawbacks were the limited availability of fast chargers, the time-consuming nature of charging and the frequent downtime of fast charging stations.

Despite reports indicating a decline in EV demand, recent data from market research firm Rho Motion showed that global sales of EVs — both pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles — surged by 32.3 percent to 1.83 million units in November.

In terms of different markets, China maintained its lead with 1.27 million units, marking a 50 percent increase. While Europe recorded 280,000 units, a slight year-on-year decrease but a 7.7 percent rise from October. The United States and Canada followed with 170,000 units, up 16.8 percent year-on-year.

BloombergNEF reported that EV sales growth is slowing, but volumes are heading for another record year and will make up 20 percent of global vehicle sales in 2024. It estimates that sales of EVs are headed to 16.7 million units this year, up from 13.9 million in 2023.

With China's dominance in the EV sector, representing nearly 70 percent of global EV sales, the market has revealed various challenges. A Chinese NEV survey released earlier in December showed a decline in user satisfaction in 2024.

The China Quality Association stated that the decline in brand image and the failure to effectively meet users' personalized quality demands were the main reasons for the decrease in customer satisfaction.

The relentless competition in the NEV market has pushed companies to rapidly launch new products, resulting in shorter update cycles. This fast pace can delay effective solutions to product and service issues, hindering overall progress in addressing customer issues.

Meanwhile, NEVs are outperforming fuel vehicles in intelligence, leading smart driving assistance and cabin design satisfaction, thanks to their adoption of the most advanced technology.

Li Gaoshuai, executive deputy secretary-general of the China Quality Association, said that China's NEV industry has led global production and sales for 10 years, with rapid growth in recent years. As the sector expands, it is crucial to focus on the reliability and quality of products.

Besides this, a user-centered strategy and customer experience are more crucial than ever, with each pre-purchase touchpoint contributing to satisfaction and reflecting brand quality, he said.