Survey: Americans Don’t Want to Pay for Neighbor’s EV

WASHINGTON – Today, the American Energy Alliance released a new survey examining voters’ attitudes toward transportation policy, specifically government support for electric vehicles. The results show that Americans are deeply skeptical of government making decisions for them with respect to vehicles or fuels—for example, when it comes to using tax dollars to subsidize electric vehicles. MWR Strategies conducted the nationwide survey with a sample of 1013 likely voters (margin of error, 3.1%).

The survey found:

• 76 percent of respondents said those making $150,000 a year or more should not receive a $7,500 federal tax credit when purchasing an electric vehicle.
• 74 percent of respondents said that electricity ratepayers should not be compelled to pay for charging stations used by owners of electric vehicles.
• 83 percent of respondents said they do not trust the federal government to decide what kind of cars should be subsidized or mandated.
• 83 percent of respondents said utility ratepayers should not pay for the electricity used by the owners of electric cars.

“Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to government involvement in their energy and transportation choices, and electric vehicles are no exception,” said AEA President Tom Pyle.

“While subsidies for electric vehicles benefit a privileged few, they come at the expense of taxpayers everywhere. The message from the public is clear: it is time to end these regressive policies and let the electric-vehicle industry compete on its own merits.”

MWR Strategies President Mike McKenna issued the following statement:

“The most striking finding to me is that despite being aware of potentially positive aspects of electric vehicles, voters are steadfastly unwilling to pay for electric vehicles purchased by others. Almost 7 in 10 said they would be unwilling to pay anything to support the development of electric vehicles. You have to think that that intensity of sentiment is eventually going to be reflected in government policy.”

The results of this survey are especially relevant as states like California face backlash for lavishing huge subsidies on wealthy electric-vehicle owners. They also cast doubt on public support for policies designed to finance EV charging stations on the backs of taxpayers and ratepayers.

Click here to view the results of the survey.

Click here to read a summary of the survey.

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