Wealthy folks. They have the money to invest in new tech.
emma said:
Wealthy folks. They have the money to invest in new tech.
And the space to charge them, plus solar panels to offset the cost.
It’s mostly people who have done the math and found it works out financially for them. Many EV owners previously had internal combustion engine cars but wanted something more reliable or less costly. It’s not always about being environmentally conscious.
If you’re looking for real stats, BloombergNEF has a lot of EV-related data, but you’ll need a subscription to access it.
In my experience, it’s white-collar workers across different ethnic groups.
Most people I know didn’t buy an EV to save the planet. They got them to save money and because they’re faster than 95% of cars on the road.
olivia said:
Most people I know didn’t buy an EV to save the planet. They got them to save money and because they’re faster than 95% of cars on the road.
That was me. I bought mine for the speed and the cool tech inside.
olivia said:
Most people I know didn’t buy an EV to save the planet. They got them to save money and because they’re faster than 95% of cars on the road.
It’s funny to hear people say they bought one to save money when most EVs cost over $50,000.
@zendaya
Actually, Teslas start at around $35,000 after incentives, and you can get a Chevy EV for around $25,000 to $28,000 with discounts. That’s brand new.
olivia said:
@zendaya
Actually, Teslas start at around $35,000 after incentives, and you can get a Chevy EV for around $25,000 to $28,000 with discounts. That’s brand new.
Maybe in the U.S., but here in the UK, a new Tesla Model 3 starts at £40,000, and the long-range version is closer to £50,000. There aren’t any incentives here, so it’s out of reach for a lot of people.
In the developing world, it’s mostly the rich who can afford them. You’re probably looking at wealthy older men in the richest parts of their countries.
jabali said:
In the developing world, it’s mostly the rich who can afford them. You’re probably looking at wealthy older men in the richest parts of their countries.
That makes sense for cars, but what about two-wheelers like scooters and bikes?
@Thomas
Honestly, probably the same group, but they’d be buying them as gifts for younger family members. In my country, electric two-wheelers haven’t really taken off because they’re too expensive for most people, and theft is a big concern. The only time I see them is in government-sponsored programs where you can rent them. No one I know has bought one yet.
If you’re looking at China, you can find plenty of data on websites like dongchedi.com or autohome.com.cn. You can also follow certain accounts on Sina Weibo for updates. Just be cautious about the source of the data, as some might be from companies trying to sell something.
@jessicah
Oops, just saw you’re asking about two-wheelers. In China, it’s a pretty diverse group buying them—men and women, young and old, and people from lower and middle-income groups. They’re super convenient for short trips, especially in cities where parking is a pain.
In the U.S., it used to be mostly upper-middle-class, slightly left-leaning people, but that’s changing. I live in a mixed-income area, and in the last few months, I’ve seen public housing tenants buying used EVs like the Chevy Bolt and Volt. It’s becoming more accessible.
I see a lot of Indians driving them in my area, including myself.
People who are sick of air pollution from gas-powered cars!
There are definitely stats out there. You just have to look.
It’s probably the boomers who feel guilty about messing up the environment.