Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

Electric vehicles (or EVs) had received a big boost off the heels of the pandemic as consumer interest over environmental issues coupled with hearty government subsidies helped fuel a respectable boom in the market. However, according to new research from a Parks Associates consumer study, it seems that EV sales boom has slowed to the point of flattening.

After sending out a survey to 8,000 U.S. internet households, Parks Associates found that electric vehicle has regressed to just about 5% of respondents reporting ownership. If applied to the U.S. population, that would mean roughly six million households currently own an EV.

According to Parks Associates, the recent bankruptcy filing in June 2024 by Fisker comes as a result of the broader challenges faced by manufacturers as they navigate an increasingly competitive and economically volatile market.

“Inflation and interest rates are up, and consumers perceive electric vehicles as expensive, challenging to charge outside the home, and limited in range,” said Daniel Holcomb, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates.

“With many car manufacturers scaling back ambitions on EV production, familiarity has dropped to 19%, a low not seen since 2018. At the same time, current EV and hybrid owners, among the most affluent consumer segments, have the highest purchase intentions to buy an EV, which indicates a relatively flat growth rate for the near future.”

According to the Parks Associates study, the breakdown of EV interest is as follows:

While prior studies showed EV owners largely remaining undeterred in the face of these issues, this new research by Parks Associates seems to show that the combined headaches of cost and lack of infrastructure is finally starting to wear on owners, thereby impacting sales.

“Our research shows key inhibitors are the perceived cost and lack of charging stations — 65% of consumers shopping for a vehicle cite at least one of three charging-related factors as a reason not to buy an EV,” Holcomb continued.

From the article, "EV Sales Growth Flattens Following Pandemic Peak" by Nick Boever  

Previously In The News

Euro SVOD Lags The US

New research from Parks Associates shows that in the UK, 55% of broadband homes watch OTT video. In France, the total is 51%. The levels of OTT usage lag that of the US, where 70% of broadband home...

'Skinny bundles' step up challenge to US Big Cable

Skinny offerings are aimed at young viewers and "cord cutters" loath to pay $100 or more to be force-fed hundreds of channels in hefty bundles and accustomed to streaming shows they want, when they de...

SVODs Are Hot, But Subscribers Are Still Fickle

A new study from Dallas-based research firm Parks Associates has found that 20% of US broadband households (approximately 90 million homes) cancelled at least one OTT or SVOD subscription in 2015....

Viacom To Target Ads On Roku Streaming Boxes

“With this partnership, we can deliver more relevant messages to Roku consumers for products and services that interest them,”said Kern Schireson, Viacom’s executive vice president of data strategy an...