Almost no electric vehicle drivers plan to buy a gasoline car next time around. In fact, a new survey found just 0.5% of current owners would choose a gas or diesel model if they replaced their car today. This data outlines strong long-term satisfaction with electric driving.
Survey numbers detail high loyalty
To get these numbers, researchers gathered responses from 4,205 participants between January 21 and March 31, 2026. The group included 3,809 current electric car drivers. The questionnaire asked people what they would purchase next, offering a clear look at owner loyalty after years of real-world use. As a result, nearly 90% of respondents plan to immediately buy another fully electric car, and 5.5% want a plug-in hybrid. Those two groups combine to 95.3% of owners choosing to stick with a battery-powered model.
Drivers rate their cars highly across several daily use categories. For example, 96.8% of respondents feel safe in their electric car, and 95% describe the vehicle as convenient. Other global studies report similar numbers. A 2024 global survey from the Global EV Drivers Alliance found 92% of owners plan to buy another electric car next, and only 1% plan on returning to a pure gasoline vehicle. Along with this, the J.D. Power 2025 ownership study noted 94% of drivers are likely to consider another electric purchase.
Long term reliability and maintenance
How do these cars hold up over time? A large number of drivers say their electric vehicle beats an equivalent gasoline car on practical metrics. For instance, nearly 73% rate their electric car as more reliable than a gas version, and fewer than 5% feel the opposite. Drivers report the cars are cheaper to fuel and easier to maintain. Many owners find them more enjoyable to drive. Over time, loyalty appears to grow stronger as drivers spend more years with the technology. Among people who bought their first electric car in 2020 or earlier, 96.7% are likely to pick another one for their next purchase. Tesla owners reported near-identical loyalty at 96.6%.
These findings differ from some larger consumer surveys looking at the wider public. For comparison, McKinsey’s 2024 consumer survey found 29% of electric car owners globally are likely to switch back to a gas engine. That study noted 24% in Germany and 18% in France might return to older engine types. The difference in numbers comes down to the groups surveyed. Plug In America talks directly to engaged electric driver communities and existing owners. Large consulting firms cast a wider net across all income brackets and locations, asking if people might consider a switch rather than asking for a definitive next-car choice. For the millions who already made the change to electric, going back to a gas station is not on the agenda.
2026 Plug in America EV Driver Annual Survey Report
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