Americans want 300 miles of EV range – but most say 75 or less covers their day — SkimNews
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- BMW Group survey found 73% of US adults say 25 to 75 miles covers their daily routine, yet 42% want at least 300 miles of range before considering an EV purchase and 18% want 400 miles or more
- Americans cite faster charging as a major draw: adding 150 miles in 10 minutes would make 53% more likely to consider an EV, a figure that jumps to 70% among Gen Z and 65% among millennials
- Big Village conducted the online survey of 1,005 US adults September 11–13, 2026, and weighted results to represent the US adult population
- Purchase price remains the biggest barrier at 51%, followed by battery longevity or replacement costs at 31%, while 55% say they would consider a used or certified pre-owned EV if it saved them enough money
- Home backup power appeals to 57% of respondents, who say the ability to keep lights on during an outage would make them more likely to consider an EV
- Overall EV consideration stands at 68%, with cheaper ownership and operating costs cited as the top reason, followed by better performance, advanced technology, and lower emissions
Why it matters: The gap between 73% who say 75 miles handles their day and the 42% who insist on 300+ miles shows automakers are competing on perceived range cushion rather than daily utility — meaning battery cost, not daily performance, is the real constraint, and 51% flagging sticker price confirms it.
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