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The federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs) is winding down, but consumer interest isn’t disappearing.
A new Harris Poll On Demand survey finds that 70% of EV considerers still plan to buy electric even after the credit expires. While 3 in 10 say they’ll defect, often back to gas or hybrid options, the majority remain open to electrification if someone steps up with value.
Incentives Matter, But Trust Matters More
EV consideration in the U.S. remains niche overall, with just 28% of buyers likely to consider a battery electric vehicle compared to 78% for gasoline and 47% for hybrids. Yet within that group, optimism endures: most consumers say they’ll keep EVs on their radar as long as incentives continue in some form.
The key difference is who’s offering them.
A $5,000 to $7,500 bridge incentive from an automaker, dealer, state, or employer could retain up to three-quarters of interested buyers. This suggests EV demand is elastic, not brittle, shaped more by trust and perceived fairness than by any single policy change.
Americans Want Shared Value, Not Shifting Costs
Consumers are entering what Harris researchers call the Affordability Era. Forty-two percent of Americans say their finances are getting worse, and nearly eight in ten believe the most reputable companies are those that protect their wallets.
That mindset is shaping expectations for the auto industry. Drivers are already used to modular upgrades such as software boosts, predictive maintenance, and connected features when they feel fairly priced. Applying that logic to incentives could make the EV transition feel like a partnership, not a penalty.
A Stress Test for Corporate Credibility
When incentives fade, consumers start watching who steps up. Eight in ten Americans say brands must act on their values to earn trust. In the EV market, that means proving affordability and sustainability can coexist.
The data shows that EV demand isn’t dead, it’s a test of trust. Automakers that share the cost of transition, rather than shift it, stand to build long-term credibility and momentum in a fragile but recoverable market.
METHODOLOGY
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll from September 23–25, 2025, among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults evaluating their likelihood to purchase or consider a battery electric vehicle (BEV) following the expiration of the federal tax credit.
