The world of the auto industry and consumers is a slippery slope – or maybe more like ocean waves that go up and down. Even with every major automaker going electric, consumers are still wary about buying a battery-electric vehicle, and they have a right to be. IONNA may be installing 30,000 BEV chargers in 2024, but it won’t be enough to handle all of the BEVs coming out by 2030 if every consumer owns an all-electric vehicle. Insight reporters say plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are the best choice, and may even lead to a transition to BEVs for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) consumers. Less than a year later, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Earlier this year, it seemed possible. According to J.D. Power data, 87 percent of consumers in the market own a PHEV, and out of that consumer population, 96 percent are likely to purchase a BEV for their next vehicle. So, what went wrong? In a wild turn of events, PHEVs are no longer ahead. Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power shed some light on the matter, and it seems consumers are less-than-happy with their PHEV purchase.

“There’s been a lot of focus on creating intermediary steps for consumers who may not be ready to fully adopt a battery-electric vehicle yet…But the experience of plug-in hybrid owners “really isn’t favorable in comparison to battery-electric vehicles.” – Gruber told Automotive News.

When it comes to overall satisfaction on a 1000-point scale for owning a PHEV or a BEV, plug-in hybrids come out at 669, whilst BEVs land at 716. The difference may not be huge, but it is definitely going to affect the theory that PHEVs will be the bridge to buying a BEV. If a consumer is unhappy with an electrified vehicle, why in the world would they buy a fully-electric vehicle? It just wouldn’t make any sense.

If consumers were to buy a BEV, some reports say this would be purely because they’re an environmentalist. The glory of a PHEV is the fuel economy and extended range a fully charged battery pack and a tank of gasoline can provide. With BEVs getting more and more efficient, a lot of automakers are offering BEVs with a “Long Distance” trim level as an option for consumers who want a larger all-electric range (AER), either due to their commute or to make them less wary of going miles and miles without a charging station nearby. Known as extended range electric vehicles (EREVs), this would be the best choice for a consumer who wants a BEV and doesn’t want to sacrifice the range they get with a PHEV.

The only problem is getting consumers to make the jump. PHEV sales are declining, and for every conventional hybrid on the market, there are nearly twice as many BEVs. Currently, there are 41 PHEVs for sale in the U.S. That’s only 12 more than there were when all of this talk about going fully-electric started. Many automakers have completely shifted their focus to BEVs as well, which will only dwindle the number of hybrids and PHEVs in the face of all the BEVs set to be produced by 2030. All-in-all, it still feels like a gamble, for automakers and consumers.

Thanks to automakers installing apps that can find charging stations along a driver’s intended route, and suggest nearby stops to recharge when the battery pack gets low, consumers can ease up a bit on the fear of getting stranded. There is also the choice to install a Level 2 charger in their home or garage so they can have a full battery every morning. Automakers are slowly making it more convenient to buy a BEV, whereas PHEVs are slowly becoming more of a luxury and less of a commodity. 2025 is right around the corner, so maybe it’s finally time to go green with all of these 2025 model year BEVs coming out.

Best of all, you can get a great deal on a new BEV when you shop for a new car online with NowCar. So, what are you waiting for? Go green and get behind the wheel of a BEV today.

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media