Nearly Half of EV Drivers Want Gas Cars Back, But Not for Reason You Think

Back to basics.

As electric vehicles grow in popularity with new car buyers, there are some current EV drivers who can't wait to switch back to an old-fashioned combustion engine. 

A new survey conducted by McKinsey & Co. dove into U.S. drivers' views on the automobile landscape in the country today. In general, more consumers are willing to consider buying an EV for their next car, with 38 percent of non-EV owners planning on buying a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle for their next purchase—a slight increase from 37 percent in 2022, according to Automotive News. Still, that dwarfs the number of Americans who will likely buy a combustion engine vehicle for their next car.  

Even more surprising was the number of EV owners who plan on going back to gas for their next car. According to McKinsey, 46 percent of EV drivers in the U.S. said they're likely to go back to a traditional engine in their next vehicle. Across the globe, the biggest concern for the consumers was not the cars themselves, but the inadequate public charging infrastructure where they live, which could leave them stranded on the road, especially on long trips. The cost of upkeep and maintenance is also an obstacle that many EV owners struggle to overcome. 

"I didn't expect that," leader of McKinsey's Center for Future Mobility Philipp Kampshoff told Automotive News of the drivers' desire to go back to combustion. "I thought, 'Once an EV buyer, always an EV buyer.'"

He acknowledged that part of the problem is that charging stations are often hidden from view, leaving drivers struggling to find a place to plug in. "Part of availability is visibility," he said. "You can't keep chargers hidden behind a Walmart."

Before taking the EV plunge, make sure your home and area is well-equipped for your new vehicle.