While the US government and automakers are pushing towards electrification of vehicles, a fresh survey has revealed a notable gap between expectations and reality in terms of adoption of EVs. KPMG’s American Perspective Survey has revealed that a majority of Americans still prefer ICEs to EVs.

According to the survey’s findings, based on responses of 1,100 adults nationwide and 400 additional individuals from major cities like Atlanta and Boston, only 20 per cent of Americans have preference for EVs. In other words, only one in five of the respondents said that they would choose an EV over a combustion engine or hybrid vehicle as their next vehicle. It suggests that mass adoption of EVs still faces considerable hurdles.

The biggest proportion (38 per cent) of the respondents said they would purchase a pure internal combustion engine (ICE) car, while nearly 34 per cent said they would buy a hybrid vehicle. The survey also revealed that the inclination toward purchasing hybrid vehicles was somewhat higher on the West Coast, where 43 per cent of prospective buyers said they would purchase a hybrid.

One of the key reasons that is keeping people away from choosing an EV as their next vehicle is that they would have to spend a lot of time in waiting at charging stations to get their vehicles recharged. The survey also revealed that 60 per cent of Americans want EVs capable of recharging in around 20 minutes. Obviously, only a few electric cars, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6, are capable of getting their batteries fully recharged in 20 minutes. The Ioniq 6 EV is one of the quickest-charging vehicles. It takes just 18 minutes to get recharged from 10 to 80 per cent, thanks to its robust 800-volt architecture.

It is also worth-noting here that the Chinese car market is enjoying a quicker shift from ICEs to electric powertrains. One of the main reasons behind it is the fact that Chinese buyers have many more electric models to choose from over a much wider price range. Some EVs in China are available at prices as low as $10,000.

The findings of the survey underscore a critical gap between the automotive industry’s ambitious electrification targets and consumer preferences. With high cost of EVs and lengthy charging times continue to be major deterrents, addressing these barriers will definitely go a long way in boosting mass adoptions of eco-friendly battery-powered vehicles.