American interest in fully electric vehicles (EVs) has declined to its lowest level in years, with more buyers turning to hybrid alternatives, a new study from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows.
According to the survey of 1,128 U.S. adults, only 16% said they were “likely” or “very likely” to consider an EV for their next vehicle, down from 25% in 2023. This marks the lowest figure recorded by AAA since 2019 and reflects growing consumer hesitancy amid concerns over price, infrastructure, and long-term ownership costs.
The percentage of respondents who said they would not consider an EV rose to 63%, up from 51% in 2019. The most cited concerns were high battery replacement costs (62%), high purchase prices (59%), and the lack of convenient public charging infrastructure (56%). More than half (55%) also expressed anxiety over running out of charge while driving.
“While interest in EVs surged in recent years, it appears affordability and practicality are now top of mind for many car buyers,” AAA said in its report.
The decline comes amid broader political and market shifts. Proposals to scale back federal support for EV adoption, including reductions in charging infrastructure funding and tax incentives, have emerged. Only 12% of survey respondents cited the potential loss of incentives as a key deterrent, suggesting cost and usability issues play a more central role.
Meanwhile, hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity, with recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicating that hybrids are outpacing both EVs and plug-in hybrids. Combined, hybrids and EVs accounted for 22% of all light-duty vehicle sales in Q1 2025, up from 18% in the same period a year earlier, with hybrids contributing the bulk of the increase.
Automakers are responding to these shifts. Toyota, for instance, aims to have 50% of its U.S. sales come from electrified vehicles by 2025, placing strong emphasis on hybrids. General Motors, previously focused on an all-electric strategy, is now preparing to launch its first new plug-in hybrid in the U.S. in 2027 and is reportedly developing additional hybrid models to meet changing consumer demand.