According to a new study by Polestar, 55 percent of US EV owners bought their vehicles for reasons other than environmental benefits.
Respondents indicated that in-vehicle technology, seamless connectivity and information management systems were more important than power generation and the resulting lack of environmental emissions in their decision to purchase an electric vehicle.
“The idea that luxury is defined by what’s ‘under the hood’ has changed in the electric age, with a focus on seamless connectivity, integration with the current digital ecosystem and good UX design,” said Gregor Hembrow, head of Polestar North America. Electric cars are changing, and Polestar’s focus on in-vehicle technology means you can get everything you need in an environmentally friendly package.”
Also read: Polestar cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent by 2021
Although environmental conditions are not the most important factor for EV buyers, they can change over time. Younger drivers, the survey found, are more concerned about being seen as environmentally conscious than older buyers.
Pollstar found that being environmentally conscious is the most important consideration for purchasing an EV for 12 percent of Gen Z buyers (those between the ages of 18 and 24). That’s twice as high for Zoomers as Millennials (25-41) and three times as high as Baby Boomers (57-74).
Age also played a role in how trusted people found brands. Electric vehicle startups were seen as loyal to 57 percent of Millennials, but only 28 percent of Baby Boomers trusted brands like Polestar, Tesla, Lucid and Rivian. Across all age demographics, 46 percent of consumers say they are more open to new brands than old ones when it comes to buying a new EV.
Pollstar conducted the survey with a survey of more than 5,000 electric and combustion vehicle drivers from a third-party company.
