Study: Rising U.S. oil prices are making more people consider buying electric cars

According to foreign media reports, a latest study by Ipsos shows that the popularity of electric vehicles in the United States is finally approaching a critical point. In recent years, electric vehicles have begun to spread rapidly in a number of other countries around the world, such as China and Europe, but the United States has been lagging behind in this regard.

F-150 Lightning (Image: Ford)

Ipsos research shows that interest in electric vehicles has tripled since 2018, with more than a third of U.S. car buyers saying they are considering buying ones.

Consumer interest in electric vehicles is rising at a time when oil prices are soaring. The last time oil prices rose in the U.S. was a few years ago, when electric car enthusiasts and owners believed that a spike in oil prices would push people to accept electric vehicles faster. However, it turns out that the rise in oil prices did not quickly increase the popularity of electric vehicles.

At present, the United States has once again seen a surge in oil prices, and this time electric vehicles have finally ushered in their own moments. Unlike before, there are more electric vehicles to choose from on the market today, and 7 years ago people did not have too deep awareness of electric vehicles. At that time, there were almost no electric pickups, electric SUVs and electric supercars on the market, and now the situation is completely different, and almost all types of vehicles can find electric versions. Over time, major manufacturers will launch more and more electric models, and consumers will have greater choice.

For example, the F-150 is the best-selling pickup truck model in the U.S. market, and soon after, its all-electric version, the F-150 Lightning, will begin shipping, and its performance will be almost on par with the fuel version. Other manufacturers will also launch electric pickups and large SUVs.

Ipsos said many people are still unfamiliar with electric vehicles, and their biggest concern is that these cars will eventually need to replace expensive battery packs; battery life anxiety and charging time are still some reasons for reluctance to buy electric vehicles; in addition, there is a major reason hindering the popularity of electric vehicles is that they are priced higher than fuel models.