Boomers vs. Millennials vs. Gen Z: How do different generations feel about electric cars?

As age decreases, consideration for electric vehicles increases

The Zebra’s new electric vehicle report uncovered how each generation feels toward electric cars and hybrids today. Interestingly, the number of Boomers who are uninterested in driving an EV or hybrid nearly equals the number of their Gen Z counterparts who share the opposite opinion. Millenials meanwhile are evenly divided with 48% saying they have not considered a hybrid of EV. 

 

What are the primary motivators for considering or purchasing electric vehicles?

For those in each age group who have considered or are actively considering an electric vehicle, the reasons why vary from generation to generation. The top two reasons were the reduced cost of gas (with 44% of respondents selecting this ias the 1# reason they have considered or purchased an electric vehicle) and environmental sustainability (with 42% of respondents). 

 

Breaking down these motivators by generation, we see Millennials represented the largest percentage of those motivated the reduced cost of gas, and shared the largest percentage with Boomers for environmental motivation. 

Significantly lower down the list in terms of motivators were things like government incentives, aesthetics and enhancement of personal brand. Of those motivated by government incentives, 40% are Boomers. Meanwhile Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to be motivated by aesthetics of the vehicle and enhancement of their personal brand.

What are the primary detractors for not considering an electric vehicle?

The research showed that nearly 60% of people have considered purchasing an EV or hybrid, although only 18% of those had considered an EV specifically. Their reasons why not, were just as split along generational lines as their reasons why. 

 

Gen Z said higher insurance rates.

While Gen Z is the most likely to consider buying an EV, they were also the most likely to cite higher insurance rates as a reason not to. Of the 16% of the general population who cited this as a reason, 40% of those were from Gen Z. 

 

 

 

 

Millennials are most concerned about recharging time on the road.

The biggest reason cited in our survey for not considering an electric vehicle is the lack of available charging stations while on the road, with 49% of the general population citing this as a detractor for them. Of all generations, Millinnials are the most concerned about recharging time on the road. 

 

 

 

Gen X is concerned about the new technology.

Of the general population, 28% cited the technology being too new as a reason to not buy an electric car. Of those respondents, 41% were from Gen X.

 

 

 

 

Boomers are concerned about mileage range.

As mentioned above, as age increases, interest in EVs decreases. Boomers thus have the least interest in considering an EV from all the generations surveyed. One of their top reasons was low mileage range. Of those who selected this as a reason, 33% were Boomers.