According to data from McKinsey & Co.'s Mobility Consumer Pulse for 2024, a significant portion of American electric vehicle (EV) owners are experiencing buyer's remorse. The report, released this month, reveals that 46% of EV owners in the United States expressed a strong likelihood of switching back to owning a gas-powered vehicle for their next purchase. This high percentage of EV owners wanting to make the switch even surprised McKinsey & Co., with Philipp Kampshoff, the head of McKinsey's Center for Future Mobility, admitting, "I didn't expect that."

In a global poll involving nearly 37,000 consumers across various countries, the survey found that Australia was the only nation with a higher percentage of EV owners (49%) than the United States, expressing a desire to return to owning an internal combustion engine. Other countries included in the survey were Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Norway. On average, across all surveyed countries, 29% of respondents said they wished to ditch their EVs.

The lack of available charging infrastructure emerged as the leading reason cited by EV owners for wanting to return to owning a gas-powered vehicle, with 35% expressing this concern. The second-highest reason was the perceived high total cost of owning an EV, stated by 34% of respondents. Additionally, 32% mentioned that their driving patterns on long-distance trips were significantly affected by having an EV.

While McKinsey noted some improvement in consumer satisfaction with charging availability globally compared to last year's survey, the report highlighted that there is still a long way to go. Across all countries surveyed, only 11% of EV owners believed that the infrastructure in their area was well-equipped in terms of charge points. Furthermore, 40% stated that there were insufficient chargers along highways and main roads, while 38% claimed that there were not enough chargers conveniently located near them.

These findings come at a time when the Biden administration has been pushing for increased adoption of EVs among American consumers and automakers. Democrats passed infrastructure legislation in 2021, pledging billions of taxpayer dollars to build half a million charging stations in the country by the end of the decade. However, as of now, only seven federally funded chargers have been implemented, sparking criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

The data reflects a lingering skepticism among a significant portion of the American population regarding the transition to all-electric vehicles. It underscores the need for further investment in charging infrastructure to address the concerns of EV owners and encourage a smoother transition to sustainable transportation options.