Study: Some EV Owners Return To Gasoline Vehicles

May 7, 2021
It found a slightly higher rate for plug-in hybrid owners, 20 percent of whom flipped back to a gas-powered car.

May 7, 2021—According to a study published in Nature Energy, 18 percent of electric vehicle owners reported switching back to gas-powered cars.

A report from CNET detailed the findings, which looked at California EV owners between 2015 and 2019. It found a slightly higher switch rate for plug-in hybrid owners with 20 percent of owners returning to a gas-powered car. 

“The major takeaway from the EV flip-flopping lands in the lap of charging—specifically at-home charging. The lack of reliable Level 2 charging at home (that's a 240-volt plug) was a major factor leading to EV ‘discontinuance,’” the report said.