EVwire brief: Almost no electric vehicle owners want to return to gasoline. A new survey found that just 0.5% of EV drivers would replace their current EV with a gasoline or diesel vehicle if they had to purchase another car today, highlighting exceptionally strong long-term satisfaction with electric vehicle ownership.
The finding comes from Plug In America's 2026 EV Driver Survey, which gathered responses from 4,205 participants, including 3,809 EV drivers, between January 21 and March 31, 2026. The survey asked respondents what they would purchase if they needed to replace their current vehicle, offering a direct measure of owner loyalty after months or years of living with an EV.
Nearly 90% of respondents said they would immediately buy another EV, while 5.5% would choose a plug-in hybrid. Together, 95.3% said they would replace their current vehicle with another plug-in model rather than return to a traditional gasoline-powered car.
Gas cars barely register as a replacement option for EV drivers. (Chart: EVwire)
The survey also found exceptionally high satisfaction across nearly every aspect of EV ownership. 96.8% of respondents said they feel safe driving their EV, while 95% described it as convenient.
Large majorities also said their EV is more reliable, cheaper to fuel, easier to maintain, and more enjoyable to drive than a comparable gasoline vehicle. Nearly 73% even rated their EV as more reliable than a gas-powered car, while fewer than 5% felt the opposite.
The survey also found that loyalty strengthens over time. Among respondents who first adopted an EV in 2020 or earlier, 96.7% said they are likely or very likely to choose another EV for their next vehicle, with Tesla owners reporting nearly identical loyalty at 96.6%.
The presence of EVs in every segment, such as in the large SUV and pickup market, likely helps owners stay electric.
Context:
Plug In America's annual EV Driver Survey has become one of the most notable snapshots of real-world EV ownership in the United States. Rather than measuring consumer interest among prospective buyers, the survey focuses on people who already own and drive electric vehicles, providing insight into long-term ownership satisfaction, charging habits, and repeat purchase intentions.
This year's results reinforce one of the survey's most consistent findings: once drivers switch to electric, very few want to return to gasoline. The exceptionally low share of respondents willing to replace their EV with a gas-powered vehicle mirrors the survey's broader satisfaction scores. The full survey, including detailed driver profiles and policy recommendations, is available below.
Source: Plug In America 2026 EV Driver Survey
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