More U.S. New-Vehicle Shoppers Consider EVs as Fuel Costs Keep Rising, JD Power Finds

JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Consideration (EVC) Study was released on May 14, 2026. Despite a slowdown in electric vehicle sales growth, consumer interest in EVs remains resilient, according to the study. The report found that rising wartime gasoline prices helped boost EV consideration in April 2026, with 26% of new-vehicle shoppers saying they were “very likely” to purchase an EV, up three percentage points from the previous month. At the same time, the percentage of shoppers who were “very unlikely” to consider an EV dropped four percentage points to 18%.

Overall, 25% of consumers surveyed in 2026 said they were “very likely” to consider purchasing an EV, up one percentage point year over year, while 35% said they were “somewhat likely,” unchanged from 2025.

“Despite ongoing policy changes, including the repeal of federal tax credits, a growing number of new-vehicle shoppers remain interested in EVs,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of OEM and EV solutions at JD Power. “At the same time, there continues to be gradual but important progress in key rejection reasons among shoppers such as purchase price, charging availability and range anxiety over the long term. Taken together, these trends offer automakers—and other stakeholders across the EV ecosystem—a clearer view of where barriers are easing and where friction remains, helping prioritize the areas in which to focus product, infrastructure and investment strategies moving forward.”

The study found that charging station availability remains the top reason consumers reject EVs, although concern over public charging declined six percentage points year over year to 46%. Charging time ranked second at 44%, also improving slightly from last year. Vehicle purchase price remained the third-largest concern at 42%, though researchers noted that affordability is becoming increasingly important again as vehicle prices remain elevated.

According to Brent Gruber, recent market data suggests that pricing is playing a larger role in discouraging shoppers from purchasing EVs, particularly among buyers already hesitant about electrification.

The report also revealed that consumers strongly opposed to EVs remain difficult to persuade. More than half of shoppers who were “very unlikely” to consider an EV said they would not pay any premium for an electric model, while 73% said they would require at least 500 miles of driving range before considering one. Additionally, 43% said public charging availability would need to match the convenience of traditional gas stations.

Generational differences also emerged in the study. Younger buyers, including Gen Z and Gen Y consumers, were more likely to cite purchase price as a major barrier, while older shoppers focused more heavily on charging infrastructure and charging speed.

Meanwhile, EV consideration among residents of apartments, condos, and townhouses remained largely stagnant due to limited access to home charging. Only 18% of apartment residents and 17% of condo or townhouse residents said they were very likely to purchase an EV, highlighting the growing importance of expanding workplace and multifamily charging infrastructure.

The 2026 EVC Study surveyed 8,154 consumers planning to buy or lease a new vehicle within the next 12 months and was conducted between January and April 2026.

EVinfo.net’s Take: High Fuel Prices Are Driving More Americans Toward EVs Despite Economic Uncertainty

New electric vehicle sales growth in the US from high fuel prices hasn’t grown as fast as other places around the world, for example Canada. Canadians purchased 21,574 new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in March, representing a whopping 74.7% increase year over year.

According to the latest J.D. Power study, 26% of new-vehicle shoppers in April said they were “very likely” to consider purchasing an EV, up three percentage points from the previous month. That increase coincided with another spike in wartime gasoline prices across the United States, reinforcing a trend that has appeared repeatedly over the last several years: when fuel prices rise, EV interest rises with them.

Consumers may debate politics, technology, or charging infrastructure, but high gasoline prices create an immediate financial reality drivers cannot ignore. For millions of Americans, EVs increasingly represent protection against fuel price volatility and long-term operating costs.

At the same time, the broader economy remains a major factor influencing vehicle purchasing decisions. In April, ABC News reported that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe the economy is getting worse.

Inflation has reportedly climbed to 3.8%, outpacing wage growth for the first time since 2023. During periods of economic uncertainty and elevated inflation, consumers often delay major purchases, especially expensive items like new vehicles.

That economic pressure helps explain why high vehicle prices remain one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. Even as interest grows, many shoppers remain cautious about affordability, monthly payments, and financing costs. Consumers are clearly interested in EV technology, but many are waiting for lower prices, improved state or utility incentives, or better economic conditions before making the transition.

The J.D. Power study also highlighted another major issue slowing broader EV adoption: limited charging access for people living in apartments, condos, and townhomes. EV consideration among multifamily residents has remained largely stagnant, underscoring the urgent need for more multifamily and workplace charging infrastructure.

Multifamily EV charging is one specialty offered by well-respected EV charging leader SWTCH Energy, along with charging for public and retail, workplace, parking facilities, and hotels.

For homeowners with garages, charging at home is often simple and inexpensive. For renters and apartment residents, however, access to reliable overnight charging remains inconsistent or unavailable entirely. Expanding multifamily charging infrastructure could unlock a massive segment of future EV buyers who are currently interested but unable to conveniently charge where they live. Multifamily building owners who offer charging have a great advantage, attracting a growing number of EV drivers, over competitors who have not installed charging yet.

At the same time, the data suggests public perception of charging infrastructure is gradually improving. Charging station availability remains the leading reason shoppers reject EVs, but that concern declined six percentage points year over year to 46%. That shift likely reflects the rapid expansion of public charging networks across the United States. In many major metropolitan areas and along key highway corridors, EV charging availability has improved dramatically over the past several years. EV charging data company Paren reported deployment remains elevated, with about 3,300 new ports added in Q1 2026.

While challenges around affordability and charging access remain, the latest data shows Americans are increasingly recognizing that EV infrastructure is growing quickly and becoming more practical for everyday driving. Rising fuel prices are accelerating that awareness and continuing to push more consumers toward electrification.

The Used EV Market is Breaking Records

The JD Power report was focused on new EV sales in the U.S, showing slow growth. However, used EV sales have been breaking records lately due to high fuel prices. EV industry veteran Angelo Elyassi reported that in March 2026, 42,924 used EVs sold in the U.S. market in a single month, which was up 54% from February and up 28% year over year. Q1 as a whole hit over 100,000 units, the second-strongest quarter on record and up 12% on the same period last year.