Nearly every company in the automobile realm says the EV revolution is coming. It’s still a long road ahead and barriers remain.
Automotive dealer software firm CDK Global has released the report of a survey, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that the industry needs to address as it transitions to an all-electric future.
The report stated that gas-powered vehicles still represent majority of the sales, while EV sales make up less than 5% of the market. For an all-electric fleet by 2032, the sales of EVs will have to double every two years.
The survey also found that while EV owners were satisfied with a net promoter score of 69, they had concerns about the time taken to charge the vehicles (69%), access to charging infrastructure (60%) and vehicle range (56%).
Meanwhile, almost half (46%) of the non-EV buyers said they do not plan on buying one in the future. This shows the need to educate shoppers on EV options while continuing to sell and service gas-powered vehicles in the decade to come.
“While the headlines shout about the inevitability of an all-EV future, there is still a lot of work we must to do to pave the way, while continuing to take care of consumer needs in the meantime,” said Barb Edson, chief marketing officer, CDK Global. “We believe the dealer is—and will continue to be—at the heart of automotive retail. By helping them better understand the realities of the market, they can plan more impactful sales and service programs and investments in their dealerships to meet consumer needs through this transition.”
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The survey found that 26% of those who intend to purchase or have already bought a gas-powered vehicle, considered an EV. Majority (88%) of them said the dealer’s sales representative offered this option.
The top purchase motivator for EV buyers was advanced technology (25%), followed by environmental impact (23%). A total of 40% of those considering an EV have postponed buying one until they had their own garage. The primary concerns for EV owners are the need for health checks on the batteries (61%), tire changes (44%) and high-voltage cable inspection (40%).
